Cong leaders from Seema-Andhra to push for unified state

Amdist claims of positive signal from the Centre over Telangana statehood, Congress leaders from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh will meet the party high command in New Delhi on January 21 to press their demand for a unified state.

"We want Andhra Pradesh to remain united," the leaders from Seemaandhra, as the two regions are collectively called, said in a one-line resolution adopted at their special meeting in Hyderabad on Thursday afternoon.

As many as 17 state ministers, two MPs and about 30 MLAs and MLCs attended the meeting.

Though divergent views were expressed by leaders on the course of action to be adopted in case the Centre concedes the demand for creation of Telangana state, they ultimately adopted a unanimous resolution stressing that they stood for a unified state.

"We will go to New Delhi on 21st and press our case with the high command as well as the Centre for maintaining status quo. We will reflect the aspirations of people of our regions for a united state," School Education Minister and convenor of the Seemaandhra Legislators' Forum S Sailajanath announced after the meeting.

The next course of action would be chalked out after the Centre announced its decision on the statehood issue, he added.

Ministers T G Venkatesh and E Pratap Reddy, who held talks with the high command leaders in New Delhi on Wednesday, told the meeting that the Centre was favourably inclined to carve out Telangana state.

"They were in no mood to listen to us as they apparently decided in favour of Telangana," Venkatesh and Pratap reportedly said.

On January 14, Congress leaders from Telangana had claimed that they have received "signals" from the Centre on creation of a separate state.