It is no open secret that the YSRCP and BRS were ‘friendly parties’. The point has come up for debate as Minister Tummala Nageswar Rao met Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu. Tummala discussed the issue of allotting space for the construction of Telangana Bhavan in Tirumala and merging 5 villages in Telangana near Bhadrachalam.
Tummala later told media that in the past, 7 mandals from Telangana were merged in Andhra Pradesh for the construction of Polavaram project. Now, the people of Telangana have to go through 5 villages in AP to go to Bhadrachalam. Tummala said he asked Chandrababu to give back the 5 villages. The Telangana Minister said that Chandrababu responded by saying he will consider the request. He said he also asked for cooperation on speedy construction of flyovers from Jaggaiahpeta to Kothagudem and Eluru to Kothagudem. He said he also raised the issue regarding repairs of the shared project in Aswaraopeta.
These are requests that even BRS and Telangana Jagruthi president Kavitha have talked about multiple times. They have been asking for the five villages ever since Chandrababu government came to power.
But the issues could have been frutified when BRS was in power in Telangana and YSRCP was in power in Andhra Pradesh. With Tummala who, like CM Revanth Reddy, is considered an ‘outsider in Congress’, coming into the scene, there is political buzz in Telangana circles.
They have given rise to two arguments. First, Tummala praising Amaravati and wanting Amaravati to become a world-class capital is drawing comments that Tummala did so due to both caste feelings and his allegiance to Chandrababu as he was a product of the TDP school.
If the BRS and YSRCP had settled the issue during their respective terms, it would have been termed a simple give and take between the two Telugu states.
With Tummala wishing Amaravati and talking about Chandrababu‘s warm meeting has irked Telangana citizens who are concerned about their regional identity. It took years of struggle for Telangana to form. Now, both the TDP and Jana Sena contested in the recently concluded municipal polls winning a seat each. Both party leaders have said that they will contest the Assembly polls in 2028.
This has given rise to the debate on dominance of Andhra settlers again. Many Telangana citizens feel though Revanth Reddy government is in power, the control buttons are in the hands of Chandrababu Naidu.
Time will tell how the Telangana citizens will retain their self respect by maintaining their friendly relations with their Telugu neighbours.
