The demand for a separate Telangana state between 1991 and 2014 was a defining political and social movement in Andhra Pradesh that culminated in the formation of Telangana as India’s 29th state on June 2, 2014. The movement during this period witnessed significant milestones, including political mobilization, student activism, public protests, and intellectual debates, leading to the eventual bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. Below is a detailed overview of the key phases, events, and factors that fueled the Telangana statehood movement during these years:

1. Background (Pre-1991 Developments)

  • Formation of Andhra Pradesh (1956): Telangana was merged with Andhra in 1956 to form Andhra Pradesh, with promises of safeguards for the Telangana region under the Gentlemen's Agreement. However, over the decades, Telangana's people felt that these promises were not kept and that the region was neglected in terms of development, employment, education, and resource allocation.
  • Initial Movements (1969-1971): The first major movement for a separate Telangana state took place in 1969, known as the Jai Telangana Movement. It saw significant protests and violent clashes but ultimately failed to achieve statehood.
  • Emergence of Regional Disparities: By the 1990s, disparities between Telangana and the Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions deepened, with people in Telangana continuing to feel marginalized in terms of water resources, employment opportunities, and political representation.

2. Re-emergence of Telangana Demand (1991–2000)

  • Regional Discontent: Throughout the 1990s, there was growing dissatisfaction among the people of Telangana due to the continued underdevelopment of the region compared to Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema. The failure to implement job reservations, unequal access to education, and the exploitation of water resources intensified the demand for a separate state.
  • Formation of Intellectual Platforms: Various intellectuals, professionals, and activists started forming organizations like the Telangana Information Trust and Telangana Aikya Vedika to articulate the demand for statehood. These groups provided a forum for discussions and helped spread awareness about the historical injustices faced by Telangana.

3. Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Formation (2001)

  • Establishment of TRS: The creation of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) by K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) in 2001 marked a new phase in the movement. KCR, a former member of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), left the party to pursue the goal of achieving statehood for Telangana. TRS became the primary political force advocating for a separate Telangana state.
  • Mission for Telangana: TRS was founded with the sole objective of achieving a separate Telangana state, and it mobilized large sections of the population, including students, farmers, and intellectuals, in support of this cause.
  • Election Strategy: The TRS contested elections in alliance with national and regional parties, using the statehood demand as its main political agenda.

4. Political and Popular Mobilization (2001–2009)

  • Bhuvanagiri and Warangal Sabhas: Public meetings and sabhas organized by the TRS, such as the Bhuvanagiri Sabha and Warangal Declaration, helped galvanize mass support for the Telangana cause.
  • Student Activism: Universities, particularly Osmania University and Kakatiya University, played a key role in mobilizing student participation in the movement. Students formed groups like the Telangana Vidyavanthula Vedika, and their activism grew more intense over the years, becoming a crucial force behind the movement.
  • TRS in UPA: In 2004, TRS entered into an alliance with the Indian National Congress (INC) and joined the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition at the national level. The Congress promised to consider the Telangana issue if it came to power, and the TRS hoped that a political resolution to the issue could be achieved through this alliance.

5. 2009 Elections and Post-Election Developments

  • Electoral Alliances in 2009: The 2009 elections were a turning point. The TRS, after breaking its alliance with Congress, suffered electoral losses, but the Telangana demand remained strong. The Congress, led by Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR), avoided taking a clear stance on Telangana, but after YSR’s death in a helicopter crash in 2009, political dynamics shifted significantly.
  • KCR's Hunger Strike (2009): In December 2009, KCR undertook a hunger strike, demanding the formation of Telangana. His fast-unto-death galvanized mass protests across Telangana, with students, intellectuals, and civil society organizations coming together to support the cause.
  • Chidambaram’s Announcement (2009): On December 9, 2009, in response to growing protests and unrest, the Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram, announced that the government would initiate the process for the creation of a separate Telangana state. However, this announcement triggered counter-agitations in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema (often referred to as Samaikyandhra Movement), and the process was put on hold.

6. Committees and Reports (2010–2012)

  • Srikrishna Committee (2010): In 2010, the central government appointed the Srikrishna Committee to examine the feasibility of creating Telangana. The committee submitted its report in 2011, presenting six options, including maintaining a unified Andhra Pradesh, bifurcation with Hyderabad as a shared capital, or creating Telangana as a separate state. However, the report did not lead to any immediate decision.
  • Protests and Intensification of the Movement: The delay in decision-making led to renewed protests and hunger strikes. TRS and other organizations like the Telangana Employees Joint Action Committee (TEJAC) intensified their agitations, demanding immediate statehood.

7. Final Push for Telangana (2013–2014)

  • All-Party Meeting (2012): In December 2012, the government held an all-party meeting to discuss the Telangana issue. Most parties supported the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, although there were some dissenting voices from the Seemandhra region.
  • Congress Decision (2013): On July 30, 2013, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) announced its decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh and create the state of Telangana, with Hyderabad as the joint capital for both states for 10 years. This decision was met with jubilation in Telangana but intense protests in Seemandhra.
  • Cabinet Approval and Parliament: The Telangana Bill was approved by the Union Cabinet in February 2014 and subsequently passed by both houses of Parliament. Despite significant opposition from Seemandhra MPs, the bill was passed amid tight security and disruptions in the proceedings.

8. Formation of Telangana State (2014)

  • Bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh: Telangana was officially declared a separate state on June 2, 2014, with K. Chandrashekar Rao becoming the first Chief Minister of Telangana. Hyderabad was designated as the joint capital of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for a period of 10 years.
  • Political Realignment: The bifurcation of the state marked the culmination of decades of struggle and the realization of a long-standing demand. It also led to new political dynamics in both Telangana and residual Andhra Pradesh.

Conclusion

The demand for a separate Telangana state during 1991–2014 was characterized by a mix of political mobilization, intellectual discourse, and grassroots activism. The creation of Telangana in 2014 was a result of persistent efforts by political leaders, particularly the TRS, student bodies, and civil society organizations. The movement highlighted issues of regional imbalances, resource allocation, and the rights of marginalized communities in the Telangana region. It remains one of the most significant socio-political movements in modern India.