Rayalaseema

Rayalaseema is an unofficial region of India's Andhra Pradesh state. It generally includes the districts of Kurnool, Cuddapah, Anantapur and Chittoor, and often Nellore.

Rayalaseema is widely thought to be underdeveloped compared to the Telangana and Coastal Andhra regions of the state. The growing movement in Telangana to secede from Andhra Pradesh, as well as southern India's long drought have caused several movements to coalesce around Rayalaseema's grievances. All of these movements are calling for greater official attention for the region, especially in the form of new water projects to tap the Krishna and Godavari rivers to help the region's beleaguered farmers. Most would only secede from Andhra Pradesh if Telangana does, or if other demands, such as moving the capital of Andhra Pradesh to Rayalaseema, or for a stronger state commitment to regional development, are not met.

Congress MP Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy of Kurnool, who hopes to unite the Rayalaseema movements, advocates for inclusion of Nellore and Prakasam districts of Coastal Andhra and Bellary district of Karnataka in a separate Rayalaseema state.