President Pranab Mukherjee has given assent to the Bill for creation of Telangana and also signed the proclamation to impose Central rule in Andhra Pradesh.
The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2014, which got Parliament’s approval on February 20 got the Presidential assent, paving the way for creation of the country’s 29th State by splitting Andhra Pradesh.
There will be 13 districts in residuary Andhra Pradesh while Telangana will have 10 districts, including the Hyderabad city. President’s rule in Andhra Pradesh was imposed following a recommendation from the Union Cabinet on Friday.
Mukherjee gave his nod to place under suspended animation the Andhra Pradesh Assembly whose term is slated to end on June 2. The decision to impose the President’s Rule in Andhra Pradesh was necessitated by N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s resignation as the Chief Minister on February 19 as he was opposed to division of the State to carve out Telangana.
Governor ESl Narasimhan had recommended Central rule in the State after the resignation. The Bill to create Telangana by splitting Andhra Pradesh was passed by Parliament in the just-concluded Winter Session.
In a bid to address concerns of the Seemandhra region, Government had already announced grant of Special Category Status including tax incentives to the residuary State as part of a six-point development package for AP’s two successor States.