The Andhra Pradesh’s Government Order No 610 (GO 610), which promises inhabitants of Telangana preference in local government employment, has always courted controversy in the state. This time it may even lead to the setting up of a new political party, with the support for the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) dwindling in proportion to the infighting in that formation. The threat of the new party does not come from K Chandrashekhar Rao’s ousted deputy A Narendra, but from party ideologue Kothapally Jayashanker.

The most recent incident in the GO 610 saga came when seven Congress MLAs quit from the 15-member house committee on the implementation of the GO. They were from the Andhra coastal districts and complained they had been insulted by members from Telangana in the panel. The Telangana members countered that the resignations were a ruse to further delay implementation of the order.

The GO is of special significance to the Telangana region, which is fighting for statehood. Drafted in 1985, it hasn’t been completely implemented as yet though announcements are routinely made. Last year, for instance, the Government said the GO would include the Police Department too—meaning that most of junior officer ranks would be filled by locals.

The issue is now a political weapon. A former vice-chancellor of the Kakatiya University, Jayashanker has been an outspoken proponent of Telangana since 1952. Sources say he is unhappy with KCR’s “high-handedness”. The TRS chief was also involved in a public battle with Narendra and other dissidents. Many of them soon found themselves facing charges for human trafficking after “documents were anonymously delivered” to the media and police offices.

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