YSRCP-sponsored three capital demand amplifies in Kurnool

KURNOOL: After Visakha Garjana, now support for three-capital approach is all set to soar in Andhra Pradesh's Rayalaseema region in Kurnool district with thousands of people set to gather for a massive rally near STBC grounds in Prakash Nagar, Kurnool District at 10 am, on Monday (December 5). Prominent leaders from Joint Action Committee (JAC) and the YSRCP are also said to participate in the rally.

Minister for Finance and Planning of Andhra Pradesh Buggana Rajendranath said, "The YSRCP is strongly supporting the Joint Action Committee which is holding a huge meeting tomorrow to not only bring to the notice in the State of Andhra Pradesh but to bring to the notice of the entire country, the history of Rayalaseema, the culture of Rayalaseema, the present situation of Rayalaseema and the future of Rayalaseema."

Finance Minister, in a video that was released, gave an explainer that led to the days of yore.

"In 1956, during the integration of the Telangana area (from the Nizams) to make the Andhra Pradesh state, the people of Rayalaseema very magnanimously accepted the shifting of the capital from Kurnool to Hyderabad, in the best interest of all the Telugu-speaking people. Since then, the people of Rayalaseema have contributed immensely to all walks of life, whether it is business, culture, administration, and politics, for the development of Andhra Pradesh.

"In 2014, when the reorganization took place again, Rayalaseema went back 100 years to prior 1937. The reason being the then government, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and the then Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, in what people have witnessed, neglected the Rayalaseema and north coastal areas. Only certain areas that would prove beneficial for the then Chief Minister were developed, leaving behind the development of Godavari districts, part of Guntur district and parts of Krishna district," he said.

What led to three-capital approach

In 2019, after the YSRCP came to power, Chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy believed that decentralization was the only solution for the comprehensive development of the state and more importantly to keep the state together so the case of Telangana in 2014 would not be repeated in the future. So, keeping this in mind, Chief Minister's research went way back to the 1937, when the first meeting took place in Nandyal, where the name 'Rayalaseema' was coined by Gadicherla Harisarvottama Rao.

The Chief Minister began his research into the history of the Sribagh Pact subsequent to that, 1953 and 1956 integration was studied, followed by the 'Telangana Movement' and the 'Jai Andhra' movement (along with the 6-point and 8-point formula), including a thorough delving into the Sri Krishna Committee report and the Sivarama Krishnan committee report.

Every report suggested that Rayalaseema was one the most backward areas in the country, as well as decentralization is the way forward, not only for the development of Rayalaseema but also for the development of various other backward regions like the Prakasam district and the northern coastal areas, which included many parts of coastal Andhra. Therefore, it was felt to have different areas to be developed in different ways, where the seat of authority was also located, which gave not only a sense of security but also a sense of hope for a way forward.

Therefore, it was decided that,

1. Administration buildings and offices in Visakhapatnam (Vizag), which was perceived to more suitable and practical

2. To have the legislature in Guntur, where lied culture and politics, and

3. The high court in Kurnool, which was a promise to acknowledge the magnanimity with which the Rayalaseema had accepted the shifting of capital from Kurnool to Hyderabad.

Keeping the future of the state of Andhra Pradesh in view and hoping that this would permanently solve the issue of sub-regionalism with regionalism, the Government of Andhra Pradesh decided to have these structures in place, he said.