Lok Satta Party national President Jayaprakash Narayan has called for a special category status to the backward Rayalaseema region which might be badly impacted in terms of revenue if the State is bifurcated. He also called for making specific commitments to the development of infrastructure and to set up educational institutions in the Seemandhra region.
While backing the formation of a separate Telangana State, he blamed all political parties for exploiting the crisis for political gains unmindful of people’s interest.
Addressing the Assembly and later a party meeting here on Saturday, he said the Rayalaseema region would face a deficit of Rs 9,000 crore. The special category status would help the region become an investment hub. “The resource-poor Rayalaseema can be the new Dubai, attracting investments from the Southern and Western States,” he said.
President Pranab Mukherjee has referred the AP Re-Organisation Bill to both the Houses of legislature setting a January 23 deadline for views. But indications are that the Government is likely to seek more time.
Later, addressing a party meeting in the city , Jayaprakash Narayan said his party would contest from all the 294 seats . The Lok Satta President recently met Aam Admi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi to discuss a possible alliance between the two parties in Andhra Pradesh.
kurmanath.kanchi@thehindu.co.in