Chief Minister Reddy has imposed the ban

The ban comes two days after suspected Maoist rebels shot dead 10 people, including a ruling party legislator.

The state government had earlier empowered the chief minister to impose the ban and the federal government in Delhi on Wednesday gave approval.

The rebels have been fighting since 1980 for a communist state.

The rebel groups were banned between 1992 and 2004 but the ban was not renewed last year in a bid to engage in peace talks.

The peace process ended in failure in January this year.

More than 250 people have been killed in violence between police and rebels since the ceasefire ended.

No talks

On Wednesday the federal home ministry gave Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy the green light to impose the ban.

State government sources said some ministers from the Telangana region were opposed to the ban but the chief minister reportedly told the cabinet he had no option other than to resort to strong measures in the wake of rebel violence.

State minister for information Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Tuesday ruled out any talks with the rebels until they laid down their arms.

On Monday, Congress party legislator, Narsi Reddy, was returning from a function when four suspected rebels attacked his group.

In addition to the 10 killed, eight others were injured in the raid in Makhtal, 130km (80 miles) south of the state capital, Hyderabad.