New Delhi:
India's 29th state will soon become a reality, with the ruling Congress set to announce a separate Telangana state after a series of meetings this evening. But political parties are divided on carving out smaller states.
Among those opposed to the move are the government's own allies - mainly the Samajwadi Party of Mulayam Singh Yadav and the National conference.
National Conference leader and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah warned that creating Telangana would bolster those agitating for similar demands from other parts of the country.
"Forming Telangana will send wrong signals. Making new states will instigate similar protests in other states. In future people of Jammu and Kashmir can also agitate and demand a separate state," said Mr Abdullah.
The Samajwadi Party, which has been vehemently opposed to dividing Uttar Pradesh, is not in favour of creating Telangana.
But allies like the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) are in favour of carving out Telangana, for varied reasons.
The NCP says it supports smaller states but says the ruling Congress must take all parties into confidence on the contours of Telangana.
RJD leader Lalu Yadav said when Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar, it was believed that smaller states are good for development.
The BSP of Mayawati has always supported smaller states. It was the BSP which had moved for the trifurcation of Uttar Pradesh in 2008. The RLD had also backed demands for carving out Harit Pradesh from Uttar Pradesh.
The UPA's former ally Trinamool Congress, which rules West Bengal, is also strongly opposed to any division, amid growing demands for Gorkhaland from Darjeeling in the state's northwest.
Even the opposition NDA is divided on Telangana. The BJP, which presided over the creation of the three new states of Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh in 2000, has always supported smaller states and says Telangana is a regional aspiration.
"The Congress is taking the decision under compulsion, but even if that is the case, we support it," said BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.
But the BJP's oldest ally Shiv Sena is against any division. The party has always opposed separate statehood for Vidarbha in Maharashtra.
The Left, which enjoys pockets of support in the Andhra and Telangana region, is also divided on the issue. The Communist Party of India-Marxist says the UPA government must ensure there are no more divisions. But the CPI, after initial hesitation, reconciled to demands for Telangana, given its economic and administrative viability.
Among those opposed to the move are the government's own allies - mainly the Samajwadi Party of Mulayam Singh Yadav and the National conference.
National Conference leader and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah warned that creating Telangana would bolster those agitating for similar demands from other parts of the country.
"Forming Telangana will send wrong signals. Making new states will instigate similar protests in other states. In future people of Jammu and Kashmir can also agitate and demand a separate state," said Mr Abdullah.
The Samajwadi Party, which has been vehemently opposed to dividing Uttar Pradesh, is not in favour of creating Telangana.
But allies like the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) are in favour of carving out Telangana, for varied reasons.
The NCP says it supports smaller states but says the ruling Congress must take all parties into confidence on the contours of Telangana.
RJD leader Lalu Yadav said when Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar, it was believed that smaller states are good for development.
The BSP of Mayawati has always supported smaller states. It was the BSP which had moved for the trifurcation of Uttar Pradesh in 2008. The RLD had also backed demands for carving out Harit Pradesh from Uttar Pradesh.
The UPA's former ally Trinamool Congress, which rules West Bengal, is also strongly opposed to any division, amid growing demands for Gorkhaland from Darjeeling in the state's northwest.
Even the opposition NDA is divided on Telangana. The BJP, which presided over the creation of the three new states of Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh in 2000, has always supported smaller states and says Telangana is a regional aspiration.
"The Congress is taking the decision under compulsion, but even if that is the case, we support it," said BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.
But the BJP's oldest ally Shiv Sena is against any division. The party has always opposed separate statehood for Vidarbha in Maharashtra.
The Left, which enjoys pockets of support in the Andhra and Telangana region, is also divided on the issue. The Communist Party of India-Marxist says the UPA government must ensure there are no more divisions. But the CPI, after initial hesitation, reconciled to demands for Telangana, given its economic and administrative viability.
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