Determined to continue their struggle as the State Cabinet gave its nod for formation of new districts on Wednesday, members of the Markapur District Sadhana Samiti(MDSS) pitched a tent in front of the Prakasam Bhavan and staged a demonstration to press for formation of Markapur district.
Leading the protest, MDSS chairman Kandula Narayana Reddy said western parts of the district had not witnessed any development in the last five decades ever since Prakasam district was formed by bringing together the backward parts in Kurnool, Nellore and Guntur districts.
The historical injustice could be remedied only by paving way to form a new district comprising the Assembly segments of Kanigiri, Darsi, Yerragondapalem, Giddalur and Markapur, he maintained.
Leaders cutting across party lines in undivided Prakasam district extended support to the protracted struggle by MDSS activists.
It would be appropriate to divide Prakasam into two districts: Ongole headquartered one with seven Assembly segments and Markapur-headquartered one with five Assembly segments for decentralised development, opined Prakasam District Development Forum president Ch. Ranga Rao.
Kandukar Assembly segment comprising Ramayapatnam sea port should be retained with Prakasam district instead of giving it to SPSR Nellore district, opined Communist Party of India Prakasam district secretary M.L. Narayana.
