The politics beneath ‘Telangana’ move

Shows intent; pushes Jagan,TDP,BJP to state where they stand. Cong hopes it’ll confine TDP and Jagan to 17 fewer LS seats than in united AP

Leaves little room for TRS to not merge with Congress after getting Telangana and Hyderabad; Cong hopes it’ll also bring poll dividends for it in Telangana

Ensures there’s no mega sweep (of united AP) by a non-Congress party. Congress also wants to put Jagan in his place,send signals to other ambitious state leaders that they’ll be checkmated too

Allows Congress to claim credit for fulfilling a “promise” that has been hanging fire since 1956. Hyderabad is physically and otherwise Telangana’s centre; couldn’t have gone anywhere else in any case

Puts focus on the new Seemandhra capital by making Hyderabad’s departure an inevitability. Coastal Andhra money can now go to Ongole or Vijaywada,etc.