With no signs of a return to normalcy in sight in Seemandhra and Telangana/United Andhra protagonists heading for a showdown on September 7, the Centre seems to be merrily indulging in “mind games” on the issue of bifurcation.
A day after reports from Delhi triggered speculation that Hyderabad could be made a Union Territory, the question being debated is whether it was just a trial balloon floated to douse Seemandhra fires and test reaction in Telangana or a genuine move. As expected, Telangana leaders vehemently opposed the idea and even their Seemandhra counterparts aren’t giving it much importance.
On Wednesday, TRS leaders held a presser in Delhi and described the UT move, if there was one, as part of an attempt to give a “mutilated Telangana” instead of the one promised in the CWC resolution.
On the other hand, by publicly posturing for UT status to Hyderabad, Seemandhra leaders seem to be entertaining the hope that they would at least succeed in compelling the Centre to bring such crucial subjects as law and order and revenue in the city under a neutral cadre or Centre’s control. Various theories are being propounded in this connection.
One of them is that even if Hyderabad is made a UT, it will be like Puducherry which also has an assembly in place. In such a scenario, the Congress hopes it will be able to bring on board its own leaders and MIM. The other theory is that since Hyderabad is going to be a joint capital for 10 years, it would make sense to have a common Governor for both the states and vest control of law and order and revenue with whoever is going to occupy the Raj Bhavan.