New Delhi: The suspense over Telangana is over. The Union Cabinet has finally cleared the Telangana draft Bill. The Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh gave its assent to the Bill. The Cabinet rejected the demands of the Seemandhra region and decided against making Hyderabad a Union Territory.
Hyderabad will be a joint capital of both the states for 10 years. The Seemandhra region (Andhra Pradesh state) will have to build its own new capital in the next 10 years. The law and order of the joint capital, Hyderabad, will be handled by the Governor of Telangana for 10 years.
The new state of Telangana will have 10 districts and the AP will have 13 districts. The Bill cleared by the Cabinet will go to President Pranab Mukherjee. It is likely to be tabled in the Rajya Sabha on February 12. If the Bill is cleared by the Parliament, the new state of Telangana will come into existence. The Andhra Pradesh Assembly has already rejected the Bill by a controversial voice vote.
The Congress is hopeful of getting the Bill passed. The Seemandhra MPs have already moved a no confidence motion against the UPA government and even the main opposition party, the BJP, which earlier backed the new state, is now questioning the manner in which the new state is being created.
Since the creation of a new state does not require a Constitutional amendment, a simple majority in both the houses of Parliament is enough to pass the Bill.
AP chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has already declared that he is ready to be sacked if the new state is created. He is openly opposing the division of the state. The critics are describing the decision as a cynical political move and not a genuine response to the demand of the people of Telangana.
The government employees in Seemandhra have decided to go on a strike opposing the new state.
Political implications
The Congress is almost dead in the Seemandhra region, which is opposed to division of the state. The YSR Congress Party launched by YS Jaganmohan Reddy, which has opposed the division, is expected to fight with the TDP led by N Chandrababu Naidu for the top slot. Seemandhra region has 25 Lok Sabha seats and 175 Assembly seats. The YSRCP is hoping that the people will back the party for its strident anti-Telangana stand. The TDP is banking on its cadre and Chandababu's experience.
In Telangana, the Congress is expected to do better after the creation of the new state. The local Congress leaders are hoping that the grateful population of Telangana will back the party. Telangana has 17 Lok Sabha seats and 119 Assembly seats.
The pro-Telangana party TRS led by K Chandrashekhara Rao will surely claim the credit for the new state. It is hoping that the voters will recognize its decade long fight for Telangana and back it. Even though the TRS has earlier promised that it will merge the party with the Congress if the new state is created is now singing a different tune. It may even go alone in the polls. The BJP and the TDP are likely to align in both Telangana and AP. The YSRCP does not have much clout in Telangana. Its leaders hope that it can win some assembly seats in the areas close to Seemandhra border.
The division of the state is unlikely to affect the MIM led by powerful and controversial Owaisi brothers of Hyderabad. If the MIM wins 7-10 seats in the assembly elections, in case of a hung assembly in 119 member Telangana assembly, the MIM can play the role of kingmaker.
The powerful Seemandhra business lobbies opposed to Telangana will either accept the new state or may shift their business to neighbouring Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Timeline
2009 December - The TRS chief K Chandrashekhara Rao goes on a fast unto death. The then Union Home Minister P Chidambaram announces creation of Telangana state.
Government of India appoints Justice B N Sri Krishna commission to look into the demand
Justice BN Sri Krishna commission submits its report on December 31, 2010
TRS rejects the report. Continues its mass agitation.
2012 - 2013 - MPs and MLAs from Telangana mount pressure for a new state. MPs and MLAs from Seemandhra oppose. Congress Core Committee decides on Telangana. Union Cabinet clears the Bill. Sent to AP Assembly. AP Assembly rejects the draft bill.
February 7, 2014: The Union Cabinet clears the Bill
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