KCR calls the 1956 Telangana–Andhra merger a lasting political burden, blaming it for ongoing water disputes and alleged betrayal by the Centre and rivals.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief K. Chandrashekar Rao on December 21 reignited a long-standing political argument by calling the 1956 merger of Telangana with Andhra a “historic injustice” that continues to shape present-day conflicts. Addressing a BRS Legislature Party meeting, he linked the integration under the States Reorganisation Act to today’s disputes over Krishna River water sharing.

KCR accused the Centre, the Congress-led Telangana government, and N. Chandrababu Naidu of repeatedly undermining Telangana’s interests. He said assurances such as the Gentlemen’s Agreement were ignored, resulting in decades of imbalance in water allocation, employment opportunities and resource distribution.

Supporters of the BRS echoed his claims, arguing that Telangana’s grievances stem from years of administrative neglect before statehood. They contended that even after bifurcation, unresolved water-sharing mechanisms continue to disadvantage the state.

However, voices from Andhra Pradesh dismissed the remarks as politically timed rhetoric, pointing to Telangana’s post-statehood growth and Hyderabad’s rise as a technology and investment hub as evidence that the state has moved beyond historical constraints.

The debate reflects how unresolved federal issues, especially river water sharing, remain potent political tools. While revisiting history resonates emotionally in Telangana, experts argue that durable solutions will depend less on past grievances and more on transparent, cooperative mechanisms between states and the Centre.