Rayalaseema Netas Soften Telangana Stand

With the Congress High Command looking inclined towards the formation of a separate Telangana state, several leaders from the Rayalaseema region appear to have softened their stand with regard to "Samaikhyandhra" or a united Andhra Pradesh.

Initially, these leaders were completely opposed to the division of the state. However, some leaders have now focused their attention on the regions that they respectively represent.

More than opposing the formation of Telangana, these politicians are now speaking about the backwardness in the Rayalaseema region, and the options that they would prefer in case of a division of Andhra Pradesh.

Union Minister of State for Railways Kotla Surya Prakash Reddy too proposed a similar alternative. Although Kotla said that his "first preference" was a Samaikhyandhra state, he said he would not agree to the division of the Rayalaseem region. He said that he would prefer a separate Rayalaseema state with the inclusion of Ongole and Nellore district, in case Telangana is formed.

Kotla said that he has already conveyed his opinion opposing the division of Andhra Pradesh to PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana.

Endowments minister C Ramachandraiah, who met Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Saturday, too explained the problems being faced by the people in the Rayalaseema region. He also requested Sonia Gandhi to keep the state united. (INN)