The Election Commission is proceeding on the assumption that the Lok Sabha and AP assembly elections will be like any in the past. In other words, the division will take place after the completion of the elections.
Even after so much hardships that the UPA government went through, it seems the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh may not be possible before the general elections scheduled for April-May this year. Though the Bill is just a signature away from becoming an Act, but that does not mean it will automatically translate into the formation of Telangana – a new state in the union of India.
Apparently, the ‘new’ Telangana and, what is left of, Andhra Pradesh will come into existence only after the Union government fixes the “appointed day.”
With general elections near and AP assembly elections likely to fall at the same time, statehood to the new state will be a tad late. The Election Commission is proceeding on the assumption that the Lok Sabha and AP assembly elections will be like any in the past. In other words, the division will take place after the completion of the elections.
With this, those opposed to the division have still not given up hope. YSR Congress Party chief Jaganmohan Reddy has threatened to knock on the doors of the Supreme Court, challenging the legality of the bifurcation.
Here are some important facts about Telangana:
- Telangana, when formed, will be a land-locked state spread over an area of over 1.14 lakh square kilometers with abundant mineral wealth. Its population (including that of Hyderabad) will be 3.5 crore.
- The state will comprises the districts of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Medak, Warangal, Rangareddy, Khammam, Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar, apart from the metropolis of Hyderabad.
- It would border on Maharashtra, Karnataka and the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh (Seemandhra).
- Telugu and Urdu are the main languages in the region, though Marathi and Kannada are also spoken in some areas.
- Telangana boasts of mineral wealth in the form of coal and iron ore. State-run Singareni Collieries, a joint venture of Central Government and Andhra Pradesh government, is a major employer in the region.
