NALGONDA: In the first of its kind private referendum on the issue of demand for a separate State, 1,048 of the 1082 voters of Alagadapa in Miryalaguda mandal opted for a separate Telangana State on the Andhra Pradesh Formation Day on Wednesday. Only ten persons went against it.

Venepalli Panduranga Rao, who found a place in Limca Book of Records by calling for a referendum on his performance as the sarpanch in 2003, took up the exercise in the presence of representatives of Human Rights Forum and Jana Vignana Vedika. Villagers queued up at the designated polling booths to cast their "votes."

Mr.Rao printed a ballot paper with three options, "I want separate Telangana," "I don't want" and "I don't know." An overwhelming 628 men and 420 women voted for the separate State while 15 voters chose the third option. The poll observers declared nine votes as invalid.

Speaking to reporters after announcing the results, Mr.Rao said it was proved beyond doubt that the Telangana sentiment remained very strong among the people. "Political parties should realise the fact and honour the sentiment of the locals," he said adding that many such referendums or plebiscites would be held in various villages shortly. He announced that he would send the results to the President, AICC president and the Chief Minister.

`Not a symbol'

Arguing that election for the Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat is not a referendum for separate State, the ex-sarpanch said: "K.Chandrasekhar Rao is not a symbol of Telangana. Irrespective of the result outcome, the sentiment among people is intact." He further demanded that the Government take the initiative to conduct such referendums in the region to know the pulse of the people.

"I am going to launch a padayatra from Kandibandagudem near Kodad to Hyderabad on January 1 to highlight the public mood on the issue of separate State."

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