Cabinet clears Telangana

New state to have 10 districts, Andhra to have 13; Hyderabad to be common capital

The Cabinet on Thursday cleared the proposal to create the state of Telangana with 10 districts after bifurcating Andhra Pradesh. This puts an end to the confusion over annexing two additional districts from the Rayalaseema region as suggested by the Group of Ministers (GoM) on bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who addressed the media after the marathon Cabinet meeting on Thursday, said Hyderabad would be the common capital of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for a period not exceeding 10 years. The decision to stick to 10 districts is in accordance with the original decision taken by the Congress Working Committee (CWC).

Shinde also said the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill would now be sent to President Pranab Mukherjee. Thereafter, it will be placed before the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and then, it will be tabled in Parliament. Although the government is keen to introduce the Bill in the winter session itself, it depends on when the President returns the Bill after signing it.

The GoM’s proposal for Rayal-Telangana, which would include the two districts of Kurnool and Anantapur, met with stiff opposition from not just Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) chief K Chandrasekhara Rao but also from the Bharatiya Janata Party. Earlier, the TRS had called for a bandh to protest any move to saddle Telangana with additional districts.

This would now render the new state with 10 districts and Andhra with 13 districts. The governor will have a special responsibility for life and property of all those who reside in the common capital area. The governor may be assisted by two advisors to be appointed by the Centre.

The Cabinet’s decision came after the Congress core group met in the morning within Parliament precincts and cleared the CWC resolution of Telangana with 10 districts. Speaking to reporters soon after the core group meeting in the morning, Finance Minister P Chidambaram had confirmed the matter would be taken up later in the evening in the Cabinet.

Shinde also said both the states (Telangana and Andhra) would be given special status under Article 371-D for equitable opportunities.

The Telangana decision is also being viewed as Congress’ attempt to cut losses electorally and politically in the run-up to general elections 2014. The Congress is hoping to gain electorally from the Telangana region in the 2014 polls, which will be a test for both the Assembly and the general elections.

The decision to bifurcate AP had divided the ruling Congress party with even Union ministers opposing the move.