Purandeswari on a mission to Vijayawada
Vijayawada: Is the Centre seriously considering Vijayawada as the capital city for residuary state of Andhra Pradesh after bifurcation. This issue has become a point of hot debate among Seemandhra Congress leaders.
They feel that the high command perhaps wants to know the pulse of the people on this issue and has hence tasked the Union Minister D Purandeswari with this job.
They feel that the Minister who normally prefers to keep away from media glare had given detailed interviews to various news channels stating that there was nothing that could be done and hence though she was an integrationist at heart, was of the opinion that it was now time to assess what the new Andhra state should get from the Centre in terms of packages and other benefits and how to protect the interests of the people after bifurcation.
Later on, she went to Vijayawada and met members of various trade organizations and chamber of commerce. On record she said that she was in Vijayawada to attend some private function and had met the trade representatives as they wanted to call on her but Congress sources here feel that she was asked by party high command to assess the mood of the people in regard to bifurcation of the state and also explore the possibility of having capital at Vijayawada.
The sources said that the trade representatives had given her memorandum preferring Vijayawada as the new capital since it would be convenient geographically for all districts and also has necessary infrastructural facilities including an airport.
They also told the Minister that it was well connected by road and rail network and was not far off even from Rayalaseema districts.
The Congress leaders feel that this could be yet another strategy of the high command to divert attention of the people from the agitation in the region and ensure speedy completion of the process of bifurcation.
News Posted: 18 October, 2013
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