Initiating the process of reorganization of districts in the state of Telangana, the TRS government constituted a committee to look into possibilities of carving out new districts. Incidentally, the decision came out on the day when a big all-party rally had been taken out in Gadwal demanding a new district and Congress leaders demanding the naming of the proposed new district in Adilabad after Konda Lakshman Bapuji, the first cabinet minister to resign from Kasu Brahmananda Reddy cabinet in 1969.
The state government constituted the committee of secretaries under the chairmanship of chief secretary Rajiv Sharma to give recommendations on reorganization of administrative units which include districts, revenue divisions and revenue mandals. At present there are 10 districts, 43 revenue divisions and 457 mandals in Telangana state. Given the vociferous demand from some sections of people and unwieldy geography of some district, dividing district in two three is a possibility. The talk in TRS circles is that there is a possibility of adding about 14 districts to existing 10. The constitution of the committee stems from the cabinet decision giving its nod to create new districts in the state. The entire process of creating new districts is expected to be completed in 9 to 12 months time.
In some there has been fierce competition within the district for new district. In Mahabubnagar district, Nagarkurnool and Gadwal are competing for new district. The 2015 election had been fought on the plank of working towards to getting a new district. In between Wanaparty is also ambitious of getting status of district. This way Mahabubnagar needs to be divided into three districts. Agitations have been going on in Bhadrachalam, Khammam and Mahbubabad for seperate districts. In all places, the agitation took an all-party form indicating the support the demand garnered from all sections. Leaders from Bhadrachalam revenue division want new district status as compensation for losing nearly 300 villages in seven mandals to the AP in the name of submerged areas in Polavaram project . Tribal organizations the area demand that Bhadrachalam be declared a tribal district by clubbing the five ST reserved constituencies Ashwaraopet, Wyra, Ellandu, Penupaka with Bhadrachalam. Similarly, another important town craving district status is Mahbubabad in Warangal district. Recently local people observed a bandh in support of their demand. From Adilabad, Mancherial division has the support from all parties from district status and is a sure candidate. People from temple town Vemulawada in Karimnagar district are also demanding Vemulawada districct , though there voice is feeble. Jagityal is a strong candidate for district status in the district.
