With the Lok Sabha passing the bill for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh , decks have been cleared for formation of Telangana as 29th state in India. Following are the major events in the history of Telangana since 1948:
1948: Indian Army annexes princely state of Hyderabad, which comprised different regions including Telangana.
1950: Telangana became Hyderabad State.
1952: First elections held in Hyderabad State.
Nov 1, 1956: Telangana merged with Andhra State, which was carved out of Madras State, to form Andhra Pradesh, a united state for Telugu-speaking people.
1969: ‘Jai Telangana’ movement for separate statehood to Telangana began. Over 300 people killed in police firing.
1972: ‘Jai Andhra’ movement began in coastal Andhra for separate Andhra State.
1975: Presidential order issued to implement Six Point Formula, providing some safeguards to Telangana.
1997: BJP supported demand for Telangana state; in 1998 election, it promised ‘one vote two states’.
2001: K. Chandrasekhara Rao floated Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to revive Telangana movement.
2004: TRS fought elections in alliance with Congress, wins five Lok Sabha and 26 assembly seats. UPA includes Telangana issue in common minimum programme.
2008: TDP announced support for Telangana demand.
2009: TRS contested elections in alliance with TDP but its tally came down to two Lok Sabha and 10 assembly seats.
Sep 2: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy died in helicopter crash, triggering political uncertainty.
Oct 2009: Chandrasekhara Rao began fast-unto-death for Telangana state.
Dec 9: Centre announced decision to initiate the process for formation of Telangana state.
Dec 23: Following protests in Rayalaseema and Andhra regions (Seemandhra) and en mass resignations of MPs and state legislators, centre put the process on hold citing need for consensus.
Feb 3, 2010: Centre set up five-member Srikrishna committee to look into Telangana issue.
Dec 2010: Srikrishna committee submitted its report, suggested six options
July 30, 2013: UPA coordination panel and Congress Working Committee decided to carve out Telangana state. Protests in Seemandhra.
Oct 3, 2013: Union cabinet approved the proposal to divide Andhra Pradesh. A Group of Ministers (GoM) was constituted to prepare the roadmap after consultations with all stakeholders.
Oct 25, 2013: Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy raised banner of revolt against Congress leadership. He wrote letters to president and prime minister urging them to stop bifurcation process.
Dec 5, 2013: Union cabinet approved draft Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2013 prepared on the basis of recommendations by the GoM. Bill sent to President Pranab Mukherjee with a request to make a reference to Andhra Pradesh legislature to obtain its views under Article 3 of the Constitution.
Dec 9: The President gave time till Jan 23 to the state legislature to give its views.
Dec 12, 2013: Bill brought to Hyderabad in a special aircraft and amid tight security.
Dec 16, 2013: Bill introduced in both houses of state legislature amid clashes between Seemandhra and Telangana lawmakers.
Jan 8, 2014: After disruptions for several days, debate finally began on the bill in assembly and council.
Jan 21, 2014: State government sought four more weeks to debate the bill. The President gave one week.
Jan 27, 2014: Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy gave notice to assembly speaker for a resolution to reject the bill.
Jan 30, 2014: Amid ruckus, both houses of state legislature passed by a voice vote official resolutions, rejecting the bill and appealing to the President not to send the bill to parliament.
Feb 5, 2014: Chief minister staged sit-in in Delhi to oppose bifurcation.
Feb 7, 2014: Union cabinet cleared the bill and rejected Seemandhra leaders’ demand to make Hyderabad a union territory. Bill sent to the President for his approval to table it in parliament.
Feb 11, 2013: Congress expelled six MPs from Seemandhra for moving no-confidence motion against government.
Feb 13, 2014: Bill introduced in Lok Sabha amid clashes between MPs from Seemandhra and Telangana. L. Rajagopal, a MP from Seemandhra, used pepper spray in the house. Speaker suspended 16 MPs including Rajagopal for rest of the session.
Feb 18, 2014: Lok Sabha passes Telangana bill