Telangana JAC opposes plan for Rayala-Telangana

The much-hyped proposal of Rayala-Telangana — a separate state comprising Telangana and parts of Rayalaseema — got the cold shoulder from pro-Telangana activists, with the Telangana political JAC vehemently opposing any such proposal and insisting on a pure Telangana state.

TJAC chairman Prof. Kodandaram said on Thursday that they will not accept inclusion of districts from other regions, and only the 10 Telangana districts with Hyderabad as the capital is acceptable.

In the morning, both BC welfare minister, Mr Basavaraj Saraiah, and government chief whip, Mr Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy, had confirmed that the Central government favours a Rayala-Telangana state and they will accept it. But when Prof. Kodandaram rejected the proposal, Mr Gandra immediately withdrew his statement. Prof Kodandaram said the TJAC will meet on July 7 to chalk out further plans for agitation to press home its demand for a separate Telangana state.
He said the people of Telangana want only the state that was in existence prior to the formation of the state of Andhra Pradesh on November 1, 1956. In fact, the Rayala-Telangana proposal comprising Telangana districts and Anantapur and Kurnool districts of Rayalaseema region, was earlier mooted by Chevella MLA Mr Kitchennagari Laxma Reddy and former minister Mr J.C. Diwakar Reddy, and later supported by ministers Erasu Pratap Reddy and T. G. Venkatesh.

As recently as Wednesday, there was a discussion on this proposal at a meeting in New Delhi attended by Union minister Vayalar Ravi, Eluru MP K.S. Rao, Congress MP Palvai Govardhana Reddy and J.C. Diwakar Reddy.