In the 2009 elections, the issue of Telangana statehood was a major political topic in Andhra Pradesh, and various parties addressed it in their election manifestos to appeal to voters in the Telangana region. The push for the creation of a separate state had gained momentum, and political parties were forced to take a clear stance on this issue. Below is an overview of how major political parties positioned themselves on the Telangana issue in their manifestos for the 2009 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha elections:

1. Indian National Congress (INC)

  • Position on Telangana: The Congress Party's manifesto for the 2009 elections was somewhat ambiguous on the issue of Telangana statehood. The party did not explicitly commit to the creation of a separate Telangana state but hinted that it was open to considering the demand.
  • Election Strategy: The Congress tried to balance between pro-Telangana and anti-Telangana regions. In Telangana, the party's local leaders assured voters that the Congress would work towards fulfilling the aspirations of the people. However, to avoid alienating voters in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, where there was significant opposition to bifurcation, the national leadership remained cautious.
  • Post-Election Actions: Despite the ambiguity in the manifesto, the Congress would later face pressure from its Telangana leaders and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), with which it had an electoral understanding, to act on the statehood demand.

2. Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS)

  • Clear Pro-Telangana Stance: The TRS manifesto for the 2009 elections was centered around a single core issue: the creation of a separate Telangana state. TRS leader K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) had founded the party in 2001 with the explicit goal of achieving statehood for Telangana.
  • Key Promises:
    • TRS promised to continue its struggle for a separate Telangana state, both inside and outside Parliament.
    • It pledged to ensure better representation and equitable development for the people of Telangana, citing the historical neglect of the region in terms of infrastructure, education, and employment.
    • The party also focused on issues like water resources and the reversal of policies that it claimed had led to the exploitation of Telangana’s natural resources by Andhra.
  • Alliance with Congress: TRS entered into an electoral understanding with the Congress, based on a shared understanding that the Telangana issue would be addressed. This alliance was part of the UPA coalition’s strategy.

3. Telugu Desam Party (TDP)

  • Shifting Stance on Telangana: The TDP, led by N. Chandrababu Naidu, had traditionally opposed the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and favored the unity of the state. However, by 2009, due to mounting pressure and growing support for statehood in Telangana, the party shifted its stance.
  • Manifesto Position:
    • In its 2009 manifesto, the TDP cautiously supported the formation of a separate Telangana state, marking a departure from its previous opposition to bifurcation.
    • The party stated that it respected the sentiments of the people of Telangana and would not oppose the demand for statehood, but it was not as vocally pro-Telangana as TRS or other regional parties.
    • Naidu’s TDP tried to keep a foot in both camps by supporting statehood in Telangana while not alienating its voter base in the Andhra and Rayalaseema regions, which opposed the division of the state.
  • Electoral Strategy: This shifting stance reflected the party's need to remain relevant in both Telangana and Seemandhra regions, though it caused some internal rifts within the party.

4. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)

  • Pro-Telangana Stand: The BJP took a clear stand in favor of the creation of a separate Telangana state in its 2009 election manifesto.
  • Key Points:
    • The BJP promised to create Telangana within 100 days if it came to power at the center.
    • The party positioned itself as one of the strongest advocates of Telangana, with a straightforward commitment to bifurcation.
    • Unlike other national parties, the BJP had a clear pro-Telangana position without the ambiguity seen in Congress or TDP manifestos, which helped it gain support from sections of the electorate in Telangana.

5. Praja Rajyam Party (PRP)

  • Ambiguous Stance: The Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), founded by popular actor Chiranjeevi in 2008, took a somewhat ambiguous position on the Telangana issue.
  • Manifesto Position:
    • The party’s manifesto did not make a clear commitment to Telangana statehood but expressed sympathy for the aspirations of the people of the region.
    • The PRP suggested that it would support whatever decision was made by the central government after consultations with all stakeholders.
    • Chiranjeevi, a native of the coastal Andhra region, was seen as hesitant to take a strong pro-Telangana position, fearing a backlash from his core voter base in Andhra and Rayalaseema.

6. Communist Parties (CPI and CPI(M))

  • Opposition to Bifurcation: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) CPI(M) and the Communist Party of India (CPI), traditionally opposed the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. Their manifestos called for the continued unity of the state, arguing that bifurcation would not solve the economic and developmental issues of the Telangana region.
  • Focus on Developmental Issues:
    • Both communist parties focused on issues like land reforms, employment, and the development of backward areas, but they did not endorse the creation of a separate state.
    • The left parties believed that a more equitable distribution of resources and better governance could resolve the regional disparities in Telangana without dividing the state.

7. Other Regional Parties

  • Lok Satta Party: The Lok Satta Party, led by Jayaprakash Narayan, took a neutral stance, suggesting that the issue of Telangana should be resolved democratically through dialogue and consensus.
  • Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM): The MIM, which has a strong voter base in Hyderabad, did not take a clear stand on Telangana in its manifesto. The party’s primary focus was on protecting the interests of Muslims and minorities in the state, particularly in the Hyderabad region.

Conclusion

The 2009 election manifestos reflected the complex and sensitive nature of the Telangana statehood issue, with parties like the TRS and BJP taking clear pro-Telangana stances, while others like Congress and TDP adopted more nuanced or ambiguous positions to appeal to voters across different regions. The election results and subsequent political developments, including the massive pro-Telangana protests, forced the Congress government to eventually address the issue, leading to the creation of Telangana as a separate state in 2014.