No change in reserved seats post AP split

The Union Home Ministry's “background note”, which sets the basic framework for the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, has suggested maintaining the status quo on reserved Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies for the new state of Telangana and the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh.

The note was presented to the Group of Ministers (GoM) on Telangana, headed by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, in its meeting at North Block on October 19.

At present, the Telangana region has five reserved Lok Sabha constituencies, of which three are for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and two for Scheduled Tribes (STs). It also has 31 reserved assembly constituencies, of which 19 are for SCs and 12 for STs.

The number of reserved constituencies for the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh is four for SCs and one for STs with respect to the Lok Sabha, and 29 for SCs and seven for STs in the Assembly.

The Home Ministry background note says: “The number and status of these reserved constituencies may remain unaltered until the next delimitation is carried out in both the states."

The note also proposes separate cadres for Telangana and the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh for all-India Services — Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service and Indian Forest Service. The initial strength and composition of the cadres is likely to be regulated under the All India Services Act of 1951.

The note suggests that after the formation of Telangana, both state governments, in consultation with the Central government, will determine the total number of posts for each state.

The manpower required for the new state of Telangana will be met from the existing state of Andhra Pradesh, and in case of disagreement it will be determined by the Centre.

The note also recommends maintaining of the status quo in terms of setting up another Public Service Commission. It says the existing Public Service Commission may function as a joint-state Public Service Commission until arrangements are made by the respective states to set up separate Public Service Commissions within their respective jurisdictions.