Bhadradri demand splits BJP in Andhra Pradesh

By SNV Sudhir

 Visakhapatnam, Nov 24, 2013: When it comes to the demand for inclusion of Bhadhrachalam into residuary state of Andhra Pradesh in state’s bifurcation issue, the BJP which claims to be very clear on the division is also divided on the regional lines.

While the BJP’s Seemandra leaders are demanding inclusion of Bhadhrachalam and Palvancha divisions into Seemandhra, their counterparts in Telangana want both divisions remain with Telangana.

The BJP Seemandhra leaders are maintaining that their central leadership is yet to take a view on it and are hopeful that they would insist on Bhadhrachalam inclusion, as part of the ‘justice for Seemandhra’ stance the BJP central leadership taken recently, before passing the Telangana Bill when it comes to Parliament.

Apprehensions are being raised in Seemandhra region that the Telangana state government, after the bifurcation, may create hurdles to the completion of the Polavaram project, which can provide irrigation water to 7.2 lakh acres in upland areas of coastal Andhra, as the villages that may face possible submergence are located in the Telangana region.

As per the estimates of irrigation experts and the state government, Polavaram project submerges 276 villages with an average population of 642 per village. Of the 276 villages, 204 are in the present Khammam district of Telangana. Out of these 204 villages, 121 are in Bhadrachalam revenue division and the remaining in Palvancha.

“No doubt our party is committed for division of the state. There is no going back on that. At the same time, we are very confident that our central leadership would definitely stand by us on the inclusion of villages coming under Bhadhrachalam and Palvancha divisions to the residuary state.

We were already assured that the central leadership would stress, pressurise for ‘justice’ to Seemandhra during discussions on Telangana Bill in Parliament,” BJP national executive member and former MLA Kambhampati Haribabu told this correspondent.

Though BJP Telangana leaders were reportedly miffed with their central leadership’s now tough stance on ‘justice to Seemandhra’ thinking that it will send adverse message in Telangana region, they toed the party line later. 

The state level leaders from the Telanaga are openly talking about problems, apprehensions, issues of public from Seemandhra region.