Seemandhra leaders spar over new capital

Hyderabad, March 3 : Having failed to stop the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the leaders of Seemandhra region are now trying to score a point by demanding the new capital of residuary State of Andhra Pradesh in their district.

Former member of Rajya Sabha Yalamanchili Shivaji on Monday demanded that Mangalagiri be made the new capital. He contended that there was lot of open space and buildings in the Nagarjuna University at Mangalagiri located between Vijayawada and Guntur and it would be suitable for locating Secretariat and Assembly building for Seemandhra. He said Nagarjuna University could be shifted to Ongole PG College and the area between Vijayawada and Guntur should be declared as non-industrial zone.

Shivaji said that the resources and assets including industries and educational institutions should be spread across 13 districts of the Seemandhra region and Hyderabad model of having everything in a single place should not be followed.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Railways Kotla Jayasurya Prakash Reddy on Monday demanded that Kurnool be made the new capital of Andhra Pradesh. He also threatened to launch agitation if Kurnool was not considered for the new capital.  INN