Hyderabad to no longer serve as capital of Andhra Pradesh, Know details
Hyderabad to no longer serve as capital of Andhra Pradesh, Know details
Starting Sunday, Hyderabad will exclusively serve as the capital of Telangana, ending its status as the joint capital of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh as stipulated by the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014. This marks a significant change for one of India’s bustling metropolitan cities, effective from June 2, 2024.
When unified Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated in 2014, the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act designated Hyderabad as the capital for both states for a period of 10 years. The Act stated, “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.” It further added, “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.”
The formation of Telangana marked the fulfilment of a long-standing demand for statehood, which was officially achieved on June 2, 2014, following the approval of the AP Reorganisation bill in Parliament in February 2014. As the ten-year period concludes, Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has instructed officials to reclaim buildings such as the Lake View government guest house in Hyderabad, which were allotted to Andhra Pradesh for this period.
Despite the decade of separation, numerous unresolved issues persist between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, including the division of assets. These matters were expected to be addressed in a Telangana cabinet meeting, but the meeting was reportedly postponed due to the Election Commission’s withholding of approval, citing the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha elections.
To mark the occasion, the Telangana government has planned a day-long event for Sunday, while the primary opposition, BRS, has outlined activities spanning three days from June 1. Congress senior leader Sonia Gandhi has been invited to attend the festivities as the chief guest, highlighting the political significance of this transition.
