2013 saw Telangana moving towards reality

The year 2013 would go down in golden letters in the history of Telangana as the Congress-led government at the Centre put its seal of approval to carve out a new state by splitting Andhra Pradesh.

But the move erupted largescale protests in Seemandhra, provoking six Congress Lok Sabha MPs to embarrass their own government by giving a notice to move a no-confidence motion in Parliament, a few weeks ago.

In a twist, they were joined by opponents TDP and YSR Congress Party in the Lok Sabha who offered identical letters on no-confidence motion, to unseat the ruling government, as part of their efforts to keep the state united.

The contentious issue of a separate Telangana state, gathering dust for several decades, began to move forward, after the Congress Working Committee (CWC), on July 30, resolved to form the state within a definite time frame.

Over two months later, the Union Cabinet on October 3, approved the proposal of the Home Ministry for formation of the 29th state and decided to set up a Group of Ministers (GoM) to work out modalities.

Notwithstanding the opposition from people in Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra regions against bifurcating the state and resignations of cabinet ministers and MPs from Seemandhra, the government was firm to form Telangana, comprising 10 districts including Hyderabad.

Against this backdrop, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu sat on an indefinite hunger at Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in Delhi to grab the nation's attention, demanding "justice to Telugu people".

However, the former Chief Minister was tight lipped over his stand, refusing to clear the air on whether he was in favour or opposing the new state.

Apparently, YSR Congress Party chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy kick started a country wide tour to garner support from various political parties against dividing the state.