Telangana decision: Rayalaseema, coastal Andhra regions celebrate the decision with Bandh

Shedding its dithering, the Congress and the UPA yesterday unanimously decided to create Telangana state out of Andhra Pradesh.

Normal life was disrupted in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions today as a shutdown began in the two regions against the decision of the Congress and the UPA to create Telangana state out of Andhra Pradesh.

Educational institutions, commercial establishments remained closed and the services of state-run Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) were suspended in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra districts like Kadapa, Chittoor, Visakhapatnam and Krishna.

The supporters of united Andhra took out rallies and planned to organise other forms of protest during the day in the districts.

The APSRTC has suspended its services at some places as a precautionary measure.

However, no major incident of violence was reported from the two regions till the morning hours, though the announcement by Congress met with disappointment across the two regions.

The Congress Working Committee, the highest decision-making body, decided to recommend to the central government to form the 29th state which will comprise 10 districts.

Hyderabad will be the joint capital of the newly-proposed state and the other regions - Rayalaseema and Andhra - for a period of 10 years. A new capital for Andhra will be identified Seemandhra region within this period.