The knives are already out. For instance, the CM is of the opinion that Bhadrachalam, a very famous and historic temple town and a tourist spot in Khammam district in Telangana, should be merged with East Godavari district (Andhra), as it was pre-1956.

The issue of which city would be made the capital of Andhra in Telangana separates is also vexing. Real estate prices have hit the roof in Vijayawada and Vizag. Vizag is one of the fastest growing cities in Asia and very cosmopolitan with a naval base, steel plant and a booming BPO sector. Real estate prices in Vizag have moved in proportion according to the strength of the T sentiment. But Vizag would be unacceptable to those such as T G Venkatesh of the RHIV — it’s “almost at the other end of the state.”

But the most contentious issue is Hyderabad. Some think Hyderabadis would like it left alone as a centrally-administered Union Territory. “The reason is, a majority of the families have settled in Hyderabad when it was made the state capital, migrating from their native villages and towns either in Telangana or Andhra. The third generation has no roots in their former home towns and villages anymore. For them Hyderabad is what Telangana or Andhra is for you or me,” according to political analyst Venkat Rao. Those such as Jayashankar, view it differently: “Hyderabad has been capital of Telangana region since four and half centuries and it was developed by Telangana people at the expense of other districts...Their sweat and blood is in this city.” For them, any discussion on a separate Hyderabad can only be hypothetical.

... contd.