Rayala Telangana proposal a tactful move of Congress?

The buzz in Andhra Pradesh political circles is that the Congress high command has tactfully floated the idea of creating "Rayala Telangana" state, rather than Telangana, to checkmate leaders on both sides of the regional divide.

The union cabinet is expected to consider the Andhra Pradesh State Re-organisation (draft) Bill within a couple of days.

That Rayala Telangana was not a mere teaser became apparent with AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh saying in New Delhi today that "I will not rule out anything" when asked if the proposal was being considered by the Centre.

Though Congress Central Working Committee resolved on July 30 to create separate Telangana state with 10 districts, including Hyderabad, its latest plan is said to be to divide all four districts of Rayalaseema region equally and amalgamate two of them (Kurnool and Anantapuram) in Telangana, thereby creating the Rayala Telangana state.

This was one of the recommendations made by Justice Srikrishna Committee.

In fact, Union Rural Development Minister and member of GoM looking into the state bifurcation issue, Jairam Ramesh, was said to have broached the Rayala Telangana proposal when Deputy chief minister Damodara Rajanarasimha had met him in New Delhi.

However, except Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen party and a few Congress leaders from Anantapuram district, there are no takers for the Rayala Telangana plan.

Everyone across the political spectrum in Telangana is opposing the idea. Local political circles are abuzz with speculation that Congress' game plan is to first outsmart the united AP protagonists when the draft Bill is referred to the state assembly for its views.

By merging Kurnool and Anantapuram districts with proposed Telangana, Congress wants to ensure that the strength in the 294-member assembly is equally divided at 147 seats.