For the people of Telangana, it was a 50-year dream coming true with the Centre announcing its decision to initiate the process for formation of a separate state.
It was around midnight that the celebrations started across the region, but barely 12 hours later the jubilation had died down with several protests erupting across coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions over the proposed division of Andhra Pradesh.
The gloom was more palpable in the state Assembly premises where legislators hailing from the Telangana region were virtually left distraught as their colleagues from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema started resigning from their posts one after the other.
The day began on a joyous note in the Assembly where the MLAs, particularly those hailing from Telangana, exchanging congratulatory greetings and hugs over the "sweet news". Legislators from Andhra and Rayalaseema too joined the chorus and appeared to keep their Telangana colleagues in good humour.
Behind the scenes, however, the Andhra and Rayalaseema MLAs were clearly planning something different to spoil the party. There was hectic activity in the Assembly lobbies as senior MLAs from Rayalaseema and Andhra regions discussed their strategies to thwart the division of state.
The incensed mood among these legislators reflected in the comment of a senior MLA from Rayalaseema who shot back: "How will it that (adoption of a resolution in favour of Telangana state) happen when the House itself will not be there?"
He dropped the first hints that MLAs from Rayalaseema and Andhra, cutting across party lines, were about to put in their papers. PTI
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