Statehood for R’seema becomes cliche?

Vijayawada: Did the separate Rayalaseema movement triggered by the alleged Amaravati-centric development in the last three years of the TDP rule fizzle out in the context of the Nandyal byelection? The answer appears to be affirmative if the exit of Byreddy Rajasekhar Reddy, the founder of Rayalaseema Parirakshana Samithi (RPS) from the movement is any indication.

Addressing a group of followers at his native Machuchumarri under Nandikotkur mandal in Kurnool district on Tuesday, he stated that the election outcome revealed the `fact’ that there is no Rayala­seema sentiment prevailing in the region in spite of a movement he spe­a­rheaded in Kurnool, Kadapa and Anan­t­apur districts. Incidentally, his RPS candidate V Pullaiah polled just 154 votes, the lowest of all the candidates in the fray which obviously upset Reddy.

He hinted that he is looking for an alternative political platform even as speculations were ripe that he was trying to make a home coming to the ruling TDP.

The RPS made an abortive effort for political mobilization with a demand for creation of a separate State with the four Rayalaseema districts as it happened in the case of Telangana. As a matter of coincidence, there is a growing feeling in some sections that Rayalaseema region continued to be subjected to injustice in terms of industrial progress, development and in distribution of the Krishna waters and Rajasekhar Reddy was at his best to capitalize on this unrest.

In the process, he targeted by the TDP government for allegedly putting all eggs in one basket ie Amaravati. As if lending credence to the noises of dissatisfaction, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government reportedly failed to dole out a package for development of the backward region as proposed by the State government. When the State government asked its alliance partner at the Centre for an assistance of Rs 2,400cr under special development package for development of seven rayalaseema and north coastal districts in the state, a sum of Rs 350cr at the rate of Rs 50cr for each district was sanctioned in 2015-16.

Faced with lukewarm response from the Centre, the Naidu government had to fend for itself to address the wounded feelings of people in Rayalaseema by launching the lift scheme at Machuchumarru in Kurnool district and at Gandikota in Kadapa district to bring water-starved lands under irrigation by harnessing the Krishna river waters. Simultaneously, the TDP government launched a drive to unleash industrial growth in Kurnool and Anantapur districts.

This initiative appeared to have yielded results helping the government address the regional feelings of discontent in Nandyal byelection. Besides, the government has accelerated the pending projects of Galeru-Nagari and Handri Neeva Srujala Sravanti irrigation schemes intending to benefit backward Rayalaseema area. It vindicated with the statement of Rajasekhar Reddy that the separatist movement reduced to be a non-issue in the election.

P Reddeppa Reddy, a retired professor in Economics from SK University in Anantapur district, observed that the demand for separate state for Rayalaseema is not feasible given its poor financial situation to meet the administrative cost required for a state capital. That is what the verdict of the Nandyal voters proved, he commented.

All the four districts in the region are weak in terms of financial resources and that they cannot afford to meet the capital cost, he maintained. Barring a few patches under the KC canal in Kadapa and Kurnool districts, the other parts in Rayalaseema are deprived of permanent irrigation sources, leaving the cultivation to the mercy of nature.