BY 02nd June 2014, there would be two states for the Telugu people. Andhra Pradesh was the first state in the country to be formed on linguistic basis after sustained struggles. Now, with the formation of separate Telangana state as the 29th state of Indian Union, a new chapter is set to begin in the the history of independent India. There is distinct possibility that new conflicts and contradictions will emerge between the two successor states and also within the states. In this background it is the responsibility of the people and people’s movements of those regions to decide about their welfare, problems, policies, politics and build movements. The idea that their problems would be solved only if Telangana state is formed had taken a deep root in the minds of large sections of the people of Telangana region. Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) utilised this opportunity. Except for CPI(M) many other parties, including other Left parties, had been supporting this demand. However, the CPI(M) took up the line of explaining its stand to the people of Telangana region without going into confrontation with them. In the Telangana area the Party and mass organisations have stood bravely against odds with a high level of consciousness, even facing repression and isolation at some places, Telangana working people, through their experience, have recognised the need of the CPI(M) and other Left parties. This is manifested in the results of last panchayat elections where people supported the CPI(M) wherever it had a presence. It was only the CPI(M) that stood firmly for united Andhra Pradesh. The parties which declared inclination towards division behaved opportunistically to utilise the sentiment of Seemandhra (the name given to the area of Andhra Pradesh excluding Telangana) people for unity. CPI(M) did not join activities of the other parties in that region. It did not see the question of unity as the problem of a region. It considered the issue as an all India policy matter. When other parties were cheating the people by opportunistically taking diametrically opposite stands in the two regions, CPI(M) stood independently in both regions sticking to its principled stand. At the same time it stood behind the people’s movements in both the regions. Not falling for immediate gains, it emphasised the necessity of the people of both the regions conducting together united struggles on people's issues. In this respect, the CPI(M) kept up its significance in Seemandhra region also. The BJP, which sat on the fence till the last moment, hurled criticism at CPI(M). The CPI(M) was attacked because it did not give a supporting hand to the opportunistic wicked tactics of the bourgeois parties. The cheating, opportunistic stand of the remaining parties in both the houses of parliament stood exposed. The integrity of the CPI(M) has come out clearly. Both Congress and TDP, the main parties in the state, are vertically divided on regional lines for securing their hegemony on people and to protect their political interests in Seemandhra and wealth in Hyderabad. The people have taken a note of the difference between these two stands. In the interest of the working people, the CPI(M) took the principled stand that the states formed on linguistic basis should not be divided. As against this, the other parties used the sentiments of the people to further their political ends. Some leaders were busy securing Hyderabad as union territory, protecting their investments and some others seeking offices. These are mutually opposite stands. In this way the substance of CPI(M)’s stand became clear in both the regions. This is an example of a principled stand taken on the basis of working class outlook. PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS During the last four years, people’s problems have taken a back seat. Nobody raised voice when various burdens were being heaped on the people. Utilising the situation, the rulers heaped burdens on people at will. There was no reference to people in the legislature. Leaders of both the regions only indulged in mutual mudslinging. The assembly sessions could not be held for days together. There was no administration worth the name. The people were left to their own fate. The people belonging to different classes and sections like workers, peasants, employees, students, women, agricultural labour, artisans were rendered helpless. In these circumstances CPI(M) stood with them. Even as the bifurcation was taking place it conducted agitations and movements. When municipal workers, anganwadis, teachers and people from various sections under their respective organisations conducted struggles, the CPI(M) as a working class party discharged its responsibility by showing solidarity with them. Now, the formation of the Telangana state is decided. While the people of Telangana area are happy, the people of the other area feel hurt. The idea that they have been put to loss due to the division has strongly impacted the minds of the people of the Seemandhra region. It cannot be said that with the division of the state, the problems in Telangana region will be solved. Very many problems remain unresolved and some new problems may also crop up. Emotions may run high in the matter of distribution of resources. Political leaders in both the regions are pandering to these emotions to further their own interests. This danger of provoking emotions is there not only between Telangana and Seemandhra but also within those regions. Already in Seemandhra, a new controversy has been sparked in the name of chosing new capital. The responsibility to see that bad blood is not created among the people again rests on the Left and democratic movement. NEW CHALLENGES FOR THE LEFT A new situation is created with the two states coming into being. The Left movement is going to face new challenges with the change in political equations. The BJP and other fundamentalist forces are gearing to strengthen themselves by taking advantage of the favourable atmosphere created for them in Telangana. The strategy of the sangh parivar seems to be to project itself as the only alternative. The BJP is looking for converting this situation to its advantage. In addition to its communalism plank to strengthen itself, the BJP is utilising Modi’s name to get the support of backward castes. To see that its base among these sections does not weaken, the TDP is thinking of allying with the BJP. Though it may give some immediate electoral gains, in the long run it will prove to be a death knell for the TDP. In Telangana it is also possible that Muslim fundamentalist organisations will get strengthened by showing the threat of the BJP. Some Muslim leaders are stridently campaigning that Telangana is the successor of Nizam-ruled Hyderabad state. Both these dangers cannot be underestimated. Some progressive individuals and organisations are talking about Samajika Telengana (a state with social justice). The unemployed youth in Telangana are having the illusion that they will get immediate jobs. Given the slowing down of Indian economy following global financial crisis, it is not difficult to imagine what consequences will the dissatisfaction lead to if employment opportunities do not increase in the days to come. The progressive forces should understand that such challenges can be faced only if the Left parties are strengthened. Similarly, in Seemandhra new caste equations are taking place. Dominant classes belonging to forward castes are rallying behind various parties to protect their influence. Some parties are fanning caste equations to protect their influence. The special package announced by the centre is sought to be hijacked by the small number of Seemandhra capitalists who are already established in national economy for further expansion of their capital. They have not invested any capital in this region. On the contrary they mobilised capital from this region and invested across the country and abroad. They may use the sops announced by the centre to get out of their financial crisis. Leaders are jumping from one party to another. It is not clear who will be in which party. Different surveys indicate that in Seemandhra the Congress has almost been wiped out. Different parties are dividing even dalits, tribals and weaker sections to protect their dominance. That is going to turn into a hurdle for the progress of mass movements. The social identity movements in the state, which had some impact on people, had identified with regional movements led by dominant castes and classes and thus helped the dominance of the upper castes. The democratic forces among them are getting weakened. The sections which want to grow with the help of the government and ruling parties are consolidating. This is a problem which will weaken the social movements. In such a turn of events with whom should the social movements join? With ruling class? Or Left and democratic forces? Some people believe that without the help of the government no progress can be made. This type of thinking is going to weaken the social movements. If identity movements work with Left parties, the democratic movements in both Telangana and Seemandhra regions will get strengthened. Formation of separate Telangana does not mean that problems of backward regions will be solved. There are backward regions in both the states. In the coming days whichever ruling class party wins the elections, these inequalities are only going to grow and not come down. They follow the same neo-liberal policies which were responsible for uneven development of the united state. Added to these are the social inequalities. To continue struggles against all types of inequalities is the immediate task before the Left parties. They have to take forward the social and economic struggles simultaneously and strengthen the class struggle. Differences cropped up among the Left parties in the background of Telangana movement. Now with the formation of the separate state, a full stop has to be put to these differences. The communist movement, which is the successor of armed peasant struggle in Telangana and the anti-imperialist, anti-zamindari struggles in Seemandhra, alone has the integrity to struggle for the comprehensive development of these regions. It has got the necessary strategy for this. These are the parties which have credibility among the people. That legacy has to be carried forward. Only with united struggles can the Left parties advance in both the states, and not allow communal and divisive forces to get strengthened. It has become a historical necessity today that the Left and democratic forces and the social movements of various sections must come on to one platform. This is necessary in view of the long term interests also. That only can give assurance for the people’s unity and their future in both the states. Therefore, the responsibility of building strong democratic movement in both the states rests on Left forces and parties.