Lone voice to raise Rayalaseema issues in Legislative Council

​Anantapur: Member of Legislative Council (MLC) M Geyanand, who is contesting the Graduate MLC elections for the second time, has vowed to continue fight for the issues that remained unrealised.

However, he expressed a sense of satisfaction at doing more than what he promised to the people. Talking to The Hans India, the MLC said that he promised the Graduate voters that he would be their voice and fight for all their problems and concerns in the Council.

In the post bifurcation era, the problems of Rayalaseema came to the fore but the rulers indifference to the region was evident and none except him had raised the complex problems of Rayalaseema in the Council.

He had even interrupted Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's speech in the Council on Amaravati development by posing questions on Rayalaseema backwardness.

As the lone political crusader for Rayalaseema development, he was instrumental in the emergence of a non-political forum called Rayalaseema Abhivruddhi Vedika’ involving intellectuals, writers, social activists and others.

For the same cause, he met the Chief Minister on several occasions and demanded 400 tmcft of water allotment to the region as part of a long term plan for the area development.

The Chief Minister responding to his pleas speeded up the Handri-Neeva project. He also fought for speeding up the promised Central University. The Parliament is expected to approve the establishment of a Central University by an Act presumably in the winter session of Parliament beginning on Wednesday.

He had also spoken to Arun Jaitley recently and if all goes well, admissions will take place soon in the new academic year to start in
November.

Geyanand said that one of his concerns was also for introducing mid-day meal scheme for students of government colleges as most of them hail from rural areas and are poor. Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu assured to concede this demand and work on its feasibility.

Dr Geyanand, a medical practitioner by profession, said that he would continue to fight for all sections of society in Rayalaseema region. He, however, clarified that he did not believe in the demand for separate Rayalaseema State which is a foolish idea.

On the health front, his demand was for increasing bed strength in government hospitals in Rayalaseema and proportionate increase in budget and workforce in the hospitals. He said that he would not rest until the demand for establishment of steel plant in YSR district and Groundnut Research Centre in Anantapur.

The Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) would fight against centralisation of development around Amaravati, he, added. He regretted that political parties are attempting to destroy the sanctity of the Graduates and Teachers constituencies by pumping in huge money to grab the exclusive space of the intellectuals.

The TDP announced its nominee as K J Reddy and YSRCP as Gopal Reddy. Geyanand said that he is not interested in winning at any cost but will appeal to wisdom, good sense and idealism to prevail over all other considerations and callings. The elections to MLC graduates constituency is expected to be held in February or March 2017.