AP forms 13 new districts; one district named after NTR

Visakhapatnam: Keeping its promise, ruling YSR Congress Party has named a new district, of the 13 formed now, in the name of veteran actor NT Rama Rao, the founder of main Opposition Telugu Desam Party.

Lakshmi Parvathi, wife of late NTR, who is a leader of YSRCP, has welcomed the decision. She is the chairperson of Telugu Academy. Parvathi, a bete noire of TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, campaigned vigorously in 2019 elections against the TDP.

NTR was born in Nimmakuru in the undivided Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district, which he had represented in the Assembly. Vijayawada is proposed to be made the headquarters of NTR district.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had promised in the elections to convert each parliamentary constituency into a separate district. During his visit to Nimmakuru in Pamarru assembly segment, as part of Praja Sankalpa Yatra on its 147th day on May 1, 2018, Jagan Mohan Reddy declared that a district will be named after NTR. Due to its vast spread and tribal population, Araku parliamentary constituency has been divided into two districts.

The highlights of the new districts also include the formation of a separate district named Sri Balaji with headquarters at Tirupati-famous as the abode of Lord Venkateswara. Puttaparthi in the undivided Anantapur district-famous for Sri Satya Sai Baba, will also become new district headquarters. The last date for receiving objections/suggestions regarding restructuring of districts is February 26.

Official sources said the government wanted to make the new districts functional from Ugadi-Telugu New Year which falls in April. Paderu, Araku and Rampachodavaram assembly segments, which form part of Araku Lok Sabha segment, will become Alluri Sitharama Raju district with headquarters at Paderu. Parvathipuram, Salur and Kurupam (the last two part of Araku LS segment) will be in Manyam district with headquarters at Parvathipuram.

The opinion among the tribals about the new district formation seems to be divided. A tribal activist said tribals from Rampachodavaram now need to travel a distance of 400 km to reach new headquarters Paderu.