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BJP's demand embarrasses TDP

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

The Bharatiya Janata Party has embarrassed its ally -- the ruling Telugu Desam Party -- with its demand for the creation of smaller districts in Andhra Pradesh.

The demand was voiced by the BJP which adopted a resolution to this effect at its two-day state executive meeting that concluded in Vijayawada at the weekend.

The party emphasised the need for decentralisation of administration by creating smaller districts. The party felt that as some districts are spread over large tracts, administration has become cumbersome.

The BJP has suggested the formation of as many as 40 districts in the state for better and easy administration and for effective implementation of developmental programmes. This requires carving out 17 new districts from the existing 23.

However, the TDP is not amused at the BJP's demand for smaller districts. The TDP also looks at the BJP's demand for smaller states and its support for a separate Telangana state with suspicion. The TDP leadership is embarrassed over the ally's "ill-conceived" demands.

Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has made it known to his partymen as well as the opposition parties that his government is fully opposed to the formation of a separate Telangana state. He has also ruled out the creation of new districts in the state.

After the recent elections, former minister Metla Satyanarayana voiced the demand for a separate Konaseema district. However, when he met the chief minister in Hyderabad recently, Chandrababu Naidu told him that there was no question of forming new districts.

In fact, the TDP chief has been resisting the demand for the creation of Balaji district comprising Tirupati-Tirumala townships and adjoining areas.

Chandrababu Naidu has also opposed the demand for the creation of Nandyal district by bifurcating Kurnool district. He has also rejected similar demands in Cuddapah, Anantapur, Khammam, Adilabad, Warangal and other districts.

At the time of formation of the state on November 1, 1956, Andhra Pradesh had only 20 districts. Subsequently, Prakasam district was carved out from Guntur and Nellore districts in 1969. Ranga Reddy district was formed by bifurcating Hyderabad district in 1978. Vizianagaram district was constituted in 1979 by carving out areas from Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam districts. However, in the last two decades, no new district has been formed.

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