United Andhra can ensure development: Chiranjeevi

Tirupati,Dec 18: Praja Rajyam Party president K Chiranjeevi on Friday said proper development of Andhra Pradesh is possible only if the state remains integrated.A bifurcation of the state would hinder development considerably,he asserted.The film star -turned politician was on his first visit to his Assembly constituency after resigning as a member from the Assembly on Thursday in favour of the campaign against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.His visit to Tirupati is to launch his tour of Andhra and Rayalaseema regions in support of a unified state.

Upon arrival here,he drove straight to Tirumala hills and paid obeisance to the Tirumala Lord.He later visited the camps where students of Sri Venkateswara University are on a relay fast, for the last six days to protest against the state's proposed bifurcation and expressed solidarity with the students.Addressing media persons,he said the state had elected four chief ministers and one prime minister from the Telangana region.The Andhra people are never opposed to the development of Telangana region.He said the majority people in the state were against division of the state and vowed to fight for keeping the state united.He said, "as a political party,we respect the people's will.Accordingly,we have decided to change our party stand on the Telangana issue and extend support for united Andhra Pradesh.

"He observed that vested political interests were behind the demand to divide Andhra Pradesh by saying,"Some people are seeking political gains by pitching for division of the state," referring to Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhara Rao.He criticised KCR for allegedly claiming that people were being paid to burn buses and to stage protests in favour of united Andhra Pradesh.He appealed to KCR not to make such statements as they would hurt the sentiments people and create law and order problem.