HYDERABAD: Joining the separate Andhra protagonists, Congress MP from Narsapur Ch. Harirama Jogaiah has said that the terms of reference for the second States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) should include the number of States to be carved out of Andhra Pradesh.

Mr. Jogaiah said in an informal chat with reporters here on Tuesday that separate States of Andhra and Telangana should be carved out for the political survival of the Congress.

"This decision must be taken at the earliest." He said he would lead the movement for a separate Andhra State .

He cautioned Congress leaders saying that others would don the role of TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao and take advantage of the situation if they did not take up the agitation. "I want to take up the issue during the Congress party's brainstorming session on January 4 and 5 here."

By January end, a meeting of all like-minded leaders would be convened to chalk out future course of action, he added.

Demand

He said there was demand for creation of separate Telangana, Andhra, north coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema. Though the general feeling among the leaders of the party from Andhra region was in favour of a separate State, many were reluctant to come out openly.

"The talk of Cabinet expansion and the proposed Legislative Council elections was preventing them from coming out openly," he said.

"Once the Cabinet expansion and elections to Council are completed, more leaders could express open support to the demand," he said.

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