“We have been fighting for Telangana for long but when it finally came, I am dumbstruck with happiness.’’

This is how Mallesham Goud, a research scholar of Osmania University, reacted to the passage of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

In fact, there was instant cheer and elation in many parts of the city. People took out rallies on bikes and cars with slogans of “Jai Telangna’’. Osmania University became an impromptu hub of celebrations and leaders of various political parties made a beeline to the University Arts College in the campus.

Celebrations were also held at the TRS headquarters here, which made elaborate preparations from the morning itself in anticipation of the development.

BJP activists also thronged to their offices to express their happiness.

According to reports, the the creation of the new State was also welcomed in many Telangana districts.

The students of Kakatiya University, Warangal took out a victory rally and people fired crackers in others districts including Medak, Nizamabad and Karimnagar.

In the meanwhile, protest meetings and demonstrations were conducted in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram Vijayawada, Kadapa and Kurnool, among others. The Andhra Pradesh Non-Gazetted Officers, which spearheaded agitation for a United Andhra, had almost given up and came to terms with the reality. It’s President and chief of Forum for United Andhra Pradesh, P Ashok Babu, who is Delhi, was quoted as saying: “We have to move ahead in such a way that the loss is minimal on account of the State’s division.”

Related Topics