Package will do magic: Deo, Union minister says division is blessing in disguise for state

By SNV Sudhir

Visakhapatnam, April 11, 2014: Amid seemingly bleak prospects for Congress in Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies acros 13 districts of coastal Andhra and Rayalseema regions, union tribal affairs and panchayat raj minister, Vyricherla Kishore Chandra Deo, expressed confidence that the special package announced by the union government for the new state will turn around the fortunes of the party in both the regions.

In an interview with this newspaper, the union minister said, the bifurcation is a blessing in disguise and the provisions of the package announced by the Centre would change the face of this region in the coming 10 years.

“Its not just an oral assurances given by  the union government everything is incorporated in the AP Reorganisation Bill, which was passed in both the houses of the parliament and became an Act. It’s a commitment made by the Parliament. For instance, the special category status that was given to AP is normally given to those states having international borders. But the centre considered AP as a special case. There will be virtual tax holiday for 5 years. Industrial corridor proposed between Vizag and Chennai will bring rapid development. With IIT, IIM, IIIT and many other premier institutions all the areas in the state will prosper. All this will definitely work in the favour of Congress,” said Deo.

The veteran Congress leader, once again made a strong pitch for Vizag as the capital of the new state and decentralization of development and growth all across the new state to avoid Hyderabad’s capital centric model.  Deo felt that Vizag having good infrastructure, cosmopolitan culture, better air connectivity, two sea ports, strategic location on the Kolkata-Chennai highway is most suited as the capital city.

“You need not begin right from the scratch if Vizag is made the capital. The argument that an ideal capital should be in the centre of the state is wrong. Capital cities right from Delhi, Jaipur to Trivandrum were not in the center of their respective states. But there should be decentralized development and it should be spread all over the state,” he said.

The five- time MP, suggested that an agriculture university be set up in East Godavari, a petroleum varsity in West Godavari, Vijayawada be made a hub for industries and commercial activity, and high court bench can be set up in Rayalaseema.

He also pointed out that one assembly session can be held in Rayalaseema districts like it happens in Ladakh and a skeletal secretariat, headed by a special chief secretary cadre senior officer could be set up in Rayalseema to dispose of pleas, give permissions for projects and various proposals.

 

The Zamindar of Kurupam in neighbouring Vizianagaram district, Deo, exuded confidence that his brave fight opposing bauxite mining and thousands of crores of funds under various UPA’s flagship schemes, he facilitated to be pumped into the 7 assembly segments coming under Araku parliament constituency will help him retain the seat.

Araku parliament constituency, which is reserved for STs, was formed due to the delimitation process that took place before 2009 polls. Until then, 67 year old Deo represented Parvathipuram constituency having almost the same assembly segments.  

Araku, is considered as one of the largest parliament constituencies having 7 assembly segments spread in four districts of Vizag, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and East Godavari.  He won the Araku segment with a margin of 1.92 lakh votes in the last polls.