Countdown begins for formation of separate Telangana

Hyderabad, May 28: With the 'Appointed Day' (June 2) when Telangana and (new) Andhra Pradesh would come into existence drawing closer, the countdown has begun for the formal bifurcation of AP.

As the mammoth task of dividing assets, liabilities and employees is underway, the bitterness that was witnessed in the run-up to the passage of Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill in Parliament still continues.

The bifurcation has saddened some Seemandhra employees who face the prospect of moving to the residuary Andhra Pradesh as they have established themselves in Hyderabad.

"It is definitely painful if we have to move out now. We have built a home and children's education is midway," a Seemandhra employee said.

A row has kicked up with Telangana employees unions demanding that 'nativity' be the criteria for dividing the staff and TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao, who is all set to become the first Chief Minister of Telangana, asserting that those from Seemandhra should not work in Telangana Secretariat.

Noting that they fought for separate state as injustice had been done to the region in jobs, the Telangana supporters wonder what was the point in having achieved separate Telangana, if Seemandhra employees remained in Telangana government.

TRS has also set up a 'war room' in its office here to compile the list of Seemandhra employees who are working in Telangana. The 'war room' is equipped with a website and email facility to receive feedback.

PTI