Congress' Rayalseema legislators demand united Andhra

Ruling Congress' legislators from Andhra Pradesh's Rayalaseema region, who have quit their posts on Thursday over the Centre's decision to concede to the demand for a separate Telangana, have decided to step up their campaign for a united state.

Ruling Congress' legislators from Andhra Pradesh's Rayalaseema region, who have quit their posts on Thursday over the Centre's decision to concede to the demand for a separate Telangana, have decided to step up their campaign for a united state.

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"We feel division of the state is not a solution to the problems in the state. Instead, united state is the solution. If division becomes inevitable, we want a separate Rayalaseema state", government Whip Sailajanath told reporters.

He was speaking after a meeting of about 40 MLAs and MLCs from the four Rayalaseema districts of Chiitoor, Kadapa, Anantapur and Kurnool and also Nellore and Prakasam.

The legislators said they would convey their views to the emissaries of the Congress High Command.

The legislators decided to persuade their colleagues who have not yet quit, Sailajanath said.

Another MLA TG Venkatesh said the meeting called abandh in Rayalaseema tomorrow to register their protest against the decision to divide the state.

The legislators also decided not to participate in the business in the assembly tomorrow as a mark of protest.

Senior MLA A Vivekananda Reddy said the decision would divide the state and will be "suicidal" for Congress.