Hyderabad: The inaugural meeting between A. Revanth Reddy and N. Chandrababu Naidu as the Chief Ministers of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, scheduled for July 6, has sparked considerable anticipation in both Telugu-speaking states, raising hopes for resolving post-bifurcation issues.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has accepted the meeting proposal from his counterpart, CM Naidu, and invited him for a discussion in Hyderabad, paving the way for their first official encounter.
CM Naidu initiated this dialogue through a letter to his Telangana counterpart, proposing a meeting to discuss matters of mutual interest between the two states.
Naidu, who assumed office as Chief Minister for the fourth time on June 12, expressed his eagerness to work closely with Revanth Reddy to resolve post-bifurcation issues, enhance cooperation, and facilitate progress in both states.
“As Chief Ministers of Telugu-speaking states, it is incumbent upon us to foster close collaboration to ensure sustained progress and prosperity for both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Our shared commitment to cooperative development is crucial to realize our mutual goals of growth and well-being,” wrote Naidu, who previously served as the Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh for two terms between 1995 and 2004.
The TDP chief, who became the first Chief Minister of bifurcated Andhra Pradesh in 2014, noted that it has been ten years since the bifurcation of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh.
“There have been multiple discussions concerning issues arising from the Reorganisation Act, which holds significant implications for the welfare and advancement of our states. It is imperative that we address these issues amicably with utmost diligence and resolve. In light of this, I propose that we meet at your place on July 6, Saturday afternoon,” the letter read.
In his reply, Revanth Reddy agreed on the necessity of resolving all pending issues of the Bifurcation Act. “An in-person meeting is necessary to help us build a strong foundation for mutual cooperation, exchange of ideas, and enable us to better serve our respective people,” he stated.
The historical association between the two leaders adds a unique dimension to this meeting, distinguishing it from previous attempts over the past decade to address issues under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014.
Revanth Reddy had previously worked in the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) as an MLA under Chandrababu Naidu in united Andhra Pradesh and later in Telangana. Although Revanth charted his own course by joining the Congress party in 2017, their past relationship has generated excitement about their upcoming meeting.
Following the TDP-led NDA’s landslide victory, Naidu, days after taking over as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, sought a meeting with Revanth Reddy to discuss issues of mutual interest. CM Revanth Reddy’s prompt response and his invitation to CM Naidu for a face-to-face meeting in Hyderabad have raised hopes for progress.
When Naidu served as the first Chief Minister of bifurcated Andhra Pradesh between 2014 and 2019, K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) was his counterpart in Telangana. Despite being former colleagues in TDP and having an electoral understanding in the 2009 elections, KCR and Naidu were not on good terms, with KCR’s party TRS (now BRS) perceiving TDP as anti-Telangana.
The cash-for-vote scandal of 2015 further strained their relationship, as KCR accused Naidu of plotting to topple his government. Revanth Reddy, then a TDP MLA, was caught by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) allegedly attempting to bribe nominated MLA Stephenson in favor of the TDP candidate Vem Narender Reddy in the MLC elections. Revanth Reddy was subsequently jailed, prompting CM Naidu to shift his base to Vijayawada and start developing Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh, despite Hyderabad being designated as the common capital for ten years under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.
Although KCR attended the foundation stone laying ceremony of Amaravati and met CM Naidu on a couple of occasions, they failed to resolve inter-state issues, including the division of assets.
Relations further deteriorated when TDP contested the 2018 Assembly elections in Telangana in alliance with the Congress and other parties, while KCR-led TRS retained power with a thumping majority.
The situation improved slightly when Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party came to power in Andhra Pradesh, with TRS welcoming the change. Jagan and KCR initially displayed camaraderie, agreeing to work together to resolve inter-state disputes amicably. However, this cooperation did not last long.
Political analysts believe that a common adversary (Naidu) brought Jagan and KCR together, despite Jagan’s opposition to bifurcation and his protest in Delhi.
The two states have remained embroiled in disputes over the sharing of Godavari and Krishna waters, with both aggressively pursuing irrigation projects and accusing each other of violating past agreements and the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act. A tense situation arose on November 30, last year, at Nagarjuna Sagar Dam across the Krishna River, when Andhra Pradesh officials forcibly released water for their state, prompting the Centre to deploy the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and hand over control of the dam to the Krishna River Water Management Board (KRMB).
Many issues remain unresolved under the A.P. State Reorganisation Act 2014, with several meetings called by the Centre failing to resolve them. These include the division of assets belonging to 23 corporations listed in the 9th schedule of the Reorganisation Act, such as the Road Transport Corporation and State Finance Corporation, and 30 institutions listed in the 10th schedule, including Raj Bhavan, High Court, and Lok Ayukta.
Andhra Pradesh has demanded its share of land parcels, buildings, and bank reserves of common institutions located in Hyderabad in the ratio of 52:48 between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, based on their population. The state also demands a share in Singareni Collieries Company Limited, a public sector undertaking, which Telangana has rejected.
Disputes also persist over commercial tax arrears, power arrears, and the Labour Welfare Fund, with Andhra Pradesh claiming that Telangana has yet to clear power dues amounting to Rs 5,000 crore.
On June 2, which marked the 10th formation day of Telangana state, Hyderabad ceased to be the joint capital of both states. A few days earlier, CM Revanth Reddy instructed officials to take over buildings allotted to Andhra Pradesh in Hyderabad for ten years. He also requested a report on all pending issues related to the division of assets and debt payments between the two states following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
