The UPA government at the centre seems to in quandary over the contentious separate Telangana demand getting more complicated day by day. While Telangana people want a separate state with Hyderabad as its capital, seemandhra leaders are not ready to part with Hyderabad, in case the state is bifurcated. Realizing that Hyderabad is becoming a major bone of contention between the regions, the party high command wants champion the three state theory.

Congress sources claimed that this is one of the options that is being considered and is part of the report that PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana submitted to the high command last week. The confidential report submitted by Botsa to the party general secretary Mr. Gulam Nabi Azad is said to have categorically mentioned that Rayalaseema people would not like to sail with Andhra region in case there was any division. Botsa had reportedly indicated in his report that the separate Rayalaseema demand would surge forth once the high command takes a decision in favor of carving Telangana state.

The sources claimed the trifurcation of the state would eliminate all the claims of other regions over Hyderabad as it is not possible to keep the city as the joint capital for three states. Even though Seemandhra leaders are getting ready to meet Azad as a team from Samaikhyandhra, Azad told the media in New Delhi on Thursday that he had invited separate groups from Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra.

Significantly, minor irrigation minister T G Venkatesh also said that though he is a staunch supporter of samaikyandhra, he would go in for separate Rayalaseema state if the division was 'thrust on us'. "Establishing three capitals for the three regions is the best option to avoid the division. When J&K has two capitals, why can't we? Even Maharashtra has overcome the Vidharbha issue by deciding to convene the Assembly from Nagpur for three months," he said.

Eloborating further on the topic, Mr. Venkatesh said that the three capitals would develop into independent cities in ten years time. "Let us review the situation after ten years. Since every region has a separate capital, division of the state, if people wanted, would not be a painful decision, at least as painful as it feels now," he said. Stressing the need for a second capital in Rayalaseema as compensation for its loss in 1956, Venkatesh added that he would demand an economic package for Rayalaseema if one was announced to Telangana.

Education minister S Sailajanath also said there would not be a separate Rayalaseema team for talks with Azad. "We all will participate as the team of Samaikhyandhra peoples' representatives. If anybody wants to demand separate Rayalaseema, they can do so separately. Anything that leads to bifurcation of state is not negotiable," Sailajanath said. However, the T-leaders are firm on their demand. "We are not bothered about the number of states and their capitals. What we want is a Telangana state with Hyderabad as the capital," said Nizamabad MP Madhu Goud Yaski.