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The Congress on Tuesday finally endorsed the creation of a separate Telangana State. It has suggested that Hyderabad be the common capital for both the States — Telangana and Andhra Pradesh — for 10 years.
Admitting that the decision had not been an easy one, the party requested the Centre to take steps “in accordance with the Constitution of India” to form the State.
It asked the Centre to assist the “residuary State of Andhra Pradesh” in building a new capital.
Announcing the decision after a meeting of the party’s working committee, Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh said 10 districts of the region would be part of the new State. He said a group of Union Ministers could look at whether more districts can be added to the State. Singh maintained that the decision was not taken because of any political pressure. “The decision today (Tuesday) has been taken after the widest possible consultations and after taking into account the chequered history of the demand for a separate State of Telangana since 1956,” a resolution passed at the meeting said.
The Congress Working Committee also urged the Centre to look into the matters of Telangana, Rayalaseema and Andhra, such as sharing of river water, power generation and distribution, and safety and security of all residents. It has also requested that the Polavaram irrigation project be declared a national project.
Telangana was merged with Andhra Pradesh in 1956. Ever since, there have been agitations for a separate Telangana State on the grounds that the region is economically backward. In December 2009, the Union Government announced the process of forming Telangana State.
Lengthy process ahead
Though Singh said that the process of carving out a new State would take four-five months, a lengthy process awaits the formation of Telangana. The Union Cabinet has to take a decision first and it will have to be conveyed to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly. The State Assembly will have to either accept or reject the decision of the Cabinet.
Based on the Assembly’s decision, the Union Cabinet will set up a group of Ministers to decide the formalities, such as fixing boundaries, sharing of debt, water and other resources.
Political benefit
The Congress leadership reminded the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, headed by K. Chandrashekhara Rao, on its offer of merger with the Congress after the decision to form Telangana. The party hopes that it will get maximum number of seats from the 10 districts.
Backroom talks are also on to ensure YSR Congress’ support to the UPA at the Centre after 2014. It is also trying to draw some advantage from the confusion within the principal Opposition in Andhra Pradesh, the Telugu Desam Party, on the issue. Though the BJP too has been campaigning for Telangana, the Congress (I) will take credit for forming the State and perhaps reap the rewards in the elections.
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