Towards the formation of Telangana State (1991-2014)

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The formation of the state of Telangana is a significant chapter in India's political and social history. The movement, which spans over several decades, culminated in the creation of the 29th state of India on June 2, 2014. Here's a narration of the story from 1991 to 2014, covering key leaders, agitations, government interventions, and major milestones.

Background (Pre-1991):
The demand for a separate Telangana state traces back to 1956 when the Telugu-speaking region of Telangana was merged with the Andhra region to form the unified state of Andhra Pradesh under the States Reorganization Act. However, discontentment grew among people in Telangana, feeling that their region was being neglected in terms of economic development, resource allocation, and employment. This gave rise to the first major Telangana agitation in 1969, which was eventually suppressed.

1991-2000: Early Revival of the Movement
In the 1990s, the Telangana movement started gaining momentum again. Leaders from the region expressed grievances about the underdevelopment and lack of representation in the state government.

  • K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR)**, who later became a pivotal figure in the movement, started expressing disillusionment with the way Telangana was treated within Andhra Pradesh.
  • In 1997, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) passed a resolution in favor of creating smaller states, including Telangana, but no action followed.

Formation of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) – 2001:

The movement took a new turn in 2001 when K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) resigned from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), citing the neglect of Telangana. He formed the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) with the sole aim of achieving statehood for Telangana.

KCR’s leadership reinvigorated the Telangana movement, drawing huge support from students, intellectuals, and marginalized sections of society. He argued that Telangana had a distinct history, culture, and language, and its resources, particularly water, were being unfairly utilized by the Andhra region.

2004: Political Milestone and UPA’s Promise

In the 2004 general elections, the Indian National Congress (INC) under Sonia Gandhi formed an alliance with TRS, promising to look into the demand for a separate Telangana state. This was a significant moment, as the issue was brought into mainstream national politics. The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) came to power, and Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy became the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

However, despite the promise, the Congress government did not make any substantial progress toward statehood, which led to growing frustration among Telangana supporters.

2009: Intensification of Agitation
By 2009, the Telangana movement had gathered significant momentum. 

  • KCR went on an indefinite hunger strike in November 2009, demanding the introduction of a bill for the formation of Telangana. His health deteriorated rapidly, sparking massive protests across the Telangana region.
  • On December 9, 2009, then Home Minister P. Chidambaram announced that the process for the creation of Telangana would be initiated. This announcement was met with jubilation in Telangana but strong opposition in the Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, leading to counter-agitations.

2010-2013: Formation of Committees and Continued Struggle

After the 2009 announcement, the government appointed the Srikrishna Committee to examine the demands for Telangana. The committee submitted its report in 2010, providing various options, including keeping Andhra Pradesh united with constitutional guarantees for Telangana. This did not satisfy Telangana supporters, leading to continued protests and bandhs (strikes).

In 2011, the TRS, along with various student groups and employees’ unions, continued organizing large-scale protests, most notably the Million March in March 2011, where thousands gathered in Hyderabad, demanding statehood.

The movement also received support from political leaders across the country, and the political pressure on the Congress-led UPA government increased significantly.

July 2013: UPA Endorses Telangana

In July 2013, the UPA Coordination Committee and the Congress Working Committee (CWC) endorsed the creation of Telangana as a separate state. This marked a crucial milestone in the movement.

  • On **October 3, 2013**, the **Union Cabinet** approved the proposal to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh and form Telangana.
  • Despite opposition from leaders in the Andhra region, particularly Chief Minister **N. Kiran Kumar Reddy**, who openly opposed the bifurcation, the bill moved forward.

February 2014: Passage of the Telangana Bill

The final and most significant milestone came in February 2014, when the Telangana Bill was introduced in the Parliament of India. The bill, officially called the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Bill, was passed in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha despite protests and disruptions, especially from MPs from Seemandhra (non-Telangana Andhra Pradesh).

On March 1, 2014, the President of India gave his assent to the bill, thus paving the way for the official creation of Telangana.

June 2, 2014: Telangana Becomes the 29th State of India
On June 2, 2014, Telangana was officially created as India's 29th state, with Hyderabad as the shared capital for 10 years, after which it would solely belong to Telangana. K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) became the first Chief Minister of Telangana.


Key Leaders Involved:

K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR): Founder of TRS and the face of the Telangana movement, he played a crucial role in leading the agitation.

Sonia Gandhi: President of the Congress Party, who eventually endorsed the formation of Telangana.

Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR): Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (2004-2009), who managed to hold off the Telangana issue during his tenure.

N. Kiran Kumar Reddy: The last Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh, who opposed the bifurcation.

P. Chidambaram: Union Home Minister in 2009, who made the first formal announcement of the Telangana process.


Conclusion:

The formation of Telangana is the result of decades of struggle, negotiations, and agitations. While the journey was filled with political complexities, the persistent efforts of KCR and other leaders, combined with the emotional appeal of statehood among the people of Telangana, led to the successful creation of the new state in 2014. This has had lasting implications for Indian politics and the structure of the southern states.



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