Raju Chaketi, Swati Nupur Tigga and Naveen Kolloju
The formation of Telangana in 2014 was widely celebrated as a landmark moment in the evolution of Indian federalism and as a decisive response to decades of regional neglect, socio-economic marginalisation, and political exclusion within the composite state of Andhra Pradesh. Statehood was expected to correct historical injustices by ensuring equitable access to water, public employment, development funds, and political representation. This article argues, however, that Telangana’s post-statehood trajectory reflects a condition of symbolic federalism, wherein territorial recognition and political visibility have not fully translated into substantive institutional transformation or inclusive governance. Drawing on theories of asymmetrical federalism, recognition and redistribution, and multi-level governance, and supported by few insights from rural Telangana. This article critically evaluates governance outcomes in the decade following state formation. It demonstrates that elite domination, executive centralisation, selective welfare delivery, fiscal dependence, and weak decentralisation continue to structure governance in the new state. Marginalised communities, Dalits, Backward Castes, tenant farmers, women, and educated rural youth, remain unevenly incorporated into development processes. The Telangana experience thus highlights the limits of statehood as a stand-alone remedy for structural injustice and contributes to broader debates on federalism, subnational autonomy, and democratic deepening in India and comparative contexts.
