Hyderabad ceased to be the common capital of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh from Sunday (June 2), as per the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014. Starting June 2, Hyderabad, one of the bustling metropolitan cities of the country, will serve solely as the capital of Telangana.
Hyderabad was appointed as the capital city of the two southern states for 10 years when the bifurcation of undivided Andhra Pradesh was carried out in 2014. Telangana officially came into existence on June 2, 2014.
“On and from the appointed day (June 2), Hyderabad in the existing State of Andhra Pradesh, shall be the common capital of the State of Telangana and the State of Andhra Pradesh for such period not exceeding ten years,” said the AP Reorganisation Act.
“After expiry of the period referred to in sub-section (1), Hyderabad shall be the capital of the State of Telangana and there shall be a new capital for the State of Andhra Pradesh,” it added.
Decades-long fight for statehood
The formation of Telangana State fulfilled a decades-long demand for statehood, officially realized on June 2, 2014, following the passage of the AP Reorganisation Bill in Parliament in February 2014.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy recently instructed officials to reclaim buildings, like the Lake View government guest house in Hyderabad, previously allocated to Andhra Pradesh for a ten-year period, effective after June 2.
Despite a decade since the separation, several issues, such as the bifurcation of assets, remain unresolved between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
The Telangana government sought to address these bifurcation issues in a cabinet meeting, but it did not occur as the Election Commission allegedly did not approve it due to the model code of conduct for Lok Sabha polls.
