Hyderabad: Creation of 24 districts is expected to cut the clout of some ministers, as also ruling and Opposition leaders and see the emergence of new power centres.
Though officials are still working out modalities for creation of new districts – an announcement is expected by Dasara —based on population, area and other criteria, it has stirred the proverbial hornet’s nest in both ruling and Opposition parties.
There have been murmurs against the proposed districts and demand for new ones from across the state. Perhaps this is because some leaders may lose clout while others stand to gain.
For example, if Karimnagar is split into Karimnagar and Jagtial, and Huzurabad area of the district is merged with Warangal, minister K.T. Rama Rao will hold complete sway over the district as the lone minister from Karimnagar.
However, finance minister Etela Rajender will have a tough time with bigwigs like Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari, tourism minister Chandulal and TD-turned-TRS MLA Errabelli Dayakar Rao, all being part of his district! Government Chief Whip Koppula Eshwar will emerge stronger in Jagtial if it is made a district.
There is a proposal to divide Adilabad into Adilabad and Mancherial or Komaram Bheem district. While two ministers, A. Indrakaran Reddy and Jogu Ramanna, will be confined to Adilabad, new power centres will emerge in the second district.
“It is inevitable. Bifurcation of the districts is bound to reduce political clout of leaders. As a minister, the entire state is part of his or her jurisdiction, yet he or she cannot meddle in party affairs in other districts,” a minister said.
Bifurcation of Nalgonda district into Nalgonda, Yadagirigutta and Suryapet looks imminent. In such a scenario, energy minister Jagdish Reddy’s clout will be confined to Suryapet.
Similarly, division of Khammam into two and emergence of Kothagudem will increase MLA Jalagam Venkat Rao’s clout. At present, R&B minister Tummala Nageswara Rao calls the shots in the district.
Similar scenarios will be seen in other districts. This may be the reason why every leader wants his or her constituency to become a district. For example, Congress MLA D.K. Aruna is demanding creation of Gadwal district.
