The proposal for carving out Rayala Telangana state out of Andhra Pradesh, mooted by some Rayalaseema Congress leaders like J C Diwakar Reddy, has kicked up a wider debate in the political circles both in the state and the national levels on Thursday.

While there was no reaction from the party leaders from coastal Andhra leaders, some Congress leaders, interestingly, extended their support to this proposal.

“We want Telangana state with Hyderabad as the capital. We will not accept making Hyderabad as Union Territory under any circumstances. However, if the Congress high command comes out with the Rayala Telangana proposal, we have no objection to it. We will abide by the high command decision,” BC Welfare Minister Baswaraj Saraiah said in New Delhi.

On the other hand, Government chief whip Gandra Venkataramana Reddy also endorsed the Rayala Telangana proposal.

“Let the Centre come out with a concrete proposal to this effect. As far as we are concerned, we will welcome such a proposal,” he said.

In the coming days, more and more Congress leaders are expected to come out in support of the Rayala Telangana proposal.