India welcomed its 29th state, Telangana, on June 2, with celebrations erupting across the region. The newly formed state comprises 10 districts of Andhra Pradesh and has a population of 35 million. The city of Hyderabad, home to a booming IT sector, will serve as the capital of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for the next 10 years.
The creation of Telangana followed a long political struggle, which included protests, hunger strikes, and claims of marginalization by the government of the unified Andhra Pradesh. Campaigners for Telangana argued that their region had been deprived of government jobs and economic opportunities. Tensions were heightened by the influx of people from the coastal Andhra region, who took up jobs initially intended for Telangana residents.
Despite fierce opposition from the Seemandhra region, the Indian parliament approved the creation of Telangana after years of conflict. The division of the state has raised concerns in Seemandhra, especially about losing access to Hyderabad, a major economic hub. However, the federal government has promised a development package for Seemandhra to address these concerns.
Telangana's formation could spark similar demands for separate states across India, leading analysts to call for a more thoughtful approach to state divisions. The case of Telangana raises questions about the broader logic of India's state boundaries and the political movements fighting for new states based on linguistic, ethnic, and economic factors.