Telangana: India’s 29th state

Hyderabad, June 2 (IANS) Following are the major events in the history of Telangana, which Monday came into being as 29th state in India.

1948: Indian Army annexes princely state of Hyderabad, which comprised different regions including Telangana.

Nov 1, 1956: Telangana merged with Andhra State, which was carved out of Madras State, to form Andhra Pradesh, a united state for Telugu-speaking people.

1969: ‘Jai Telangana’ movement for separate statehood to Telangana began. Over 300 people killed in police firing.

2001: K. Chandrasekhara Rao floated Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to revive Telangana movement.

2004: TRS fought elections in alliance with Congress, wins five Lok Sabha and 26 assembly seats. UPA includes Telangana issue in common minimum programme.

2008: TDP announced support for Telangana demand.

2009: TRS contested elections in alliance with TDP but its tally came down to two Lok Sabha and 10 assembly seats.

Oct 2009: Chandrasekhara Rao began fast-unto-death for Telangana state.

Dec 9: Centre announced decision to initiate the process for formation of Telangana state.

Dec 23: Following protests in Rayalaseema and Andhra regions (Seemandhra) and en mass resignations of MPs and state legislators, centre put the process on hold citing need for consensus.

Feb 3, 2010: Centre set up five-member Srikrishna committee to look into Telangana issue.

Dec 2010: Srikrishna committee submitted its report, suggested six options

July 30, 2013: UPA coordination panel and Congress Working Committee decided to carve out Telangana state. Protests in Seemandhra.

Oct 3, 2013: Union cabinet approved the proposal to divide Andhra Pradesh. A Group of Ministers (GoM) was constituted to prepare the roadmap after consultations with all stakeholders.

Oct 25, 2013: Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy raised banner of revolt against Congress leadership.

Dec 5, 2013: Union cabinet approved draft Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 prepared on the basis of recommendations by the GoM. Bill sent to President Pranab Mukherjee with a request to make a reference to Andhra Pradesh legislature to obtain its views under Article 3 of the Constitution.

Dec 16, 2013: Bill introduced in both houses of state legislature amid clashes between Seemandhra and Telangana lawmakers.

Jan 30, 2014: Amid ruckus, both houses of state legislature passed by a voice vote official resolutions, rejecting the bill and appealing to the President not to send the bill to parliament.

Feb 5, 2014: Chief minister staged sit-in in Delhi to oppose bifurcation.

Feb 7, 2014: Union cabinet cleared the bill and rejected Seemandhra leaders’ demand to make Hyderabad a union territory.

Feb 13, 2014: Bill introduced in Lok Sabha amid clashes between MPs from Seemandhra and Telangana. L. Rajagopal, a MP from Seemandhra, used pepper spray in the house.

Feb 18, 2014: Lok Sabha passes Telangana bill

Feb 19, 2014: Kiran Reddy resigns as the chief minister to protest bifurcation

Feb 20, 2014: Rajya Sabha passes bill. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announces package for Seemandhra.

March 1, 2014: President Pranab Mukherjee gives his assent to Telangana bill. President’s rule imposed in the state.

April 30, 2014: Simultaneous elections held to 119-member Telangana assembly and 17 Lok Sabha seats.

May 16, 2014: TRS stormed to power by winning 63 seats in the assembly and also bagged 11 Lok Sabha seats.

June 2, 2014: Telangana is born as the new state. Chandrasekhara Rao takes oath as the first chief minister.