While several Congress leaders from the Rayalaseema region are speaking in favour of the formation of Rayala Telangana, senior leader and vice-chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Marri Sashidhar Reddy has opposed the move.
Speaking to media persons, Sashidhar Reddy said that it would be inappropriate to divide the Rayalaseema region into two parts along with the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. He said that the proposal to merge Anantapur and Kurnool districts into Telangana, while keeping Chittoor and Kadapa in the Seemandhra region, is wrong and not practical. He said that such a proposal would not be in the interest of either Telangana or Rayalaseema.
Sashidhar Reddy also welcomed the support extended by all parties to the demand for increase in Assembly seats in Telangana from the present 119 to 153. He said that the increase would be essential to strike a proper political balance in the region. (INN)