A significant political and civic movement is gaining momentum in Secunderabad as the Telangana government contemplates restructuring the expanded Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). The proposal to potentially merge the historic Secunderabad area into a new Malkajgiri municipal corporation has sparked widespread opposition, with residents, traders, and political leaders uniting to demand a standalone civic body for Secunderabad.
A Campaign to Protect 220 Years of History
Leaders spearheading the movement argue that subsuming Secunderabad into Malkajgiri would effectively erase the unique identity of a city with over 220 years of history. They warn that such a merger would force residents to travel longer distances to address civic grievances and perpetuate existing neglect. A core allegation is that a major share of GHMC funds has historically been directed towards western Hyderabad, leaving Secunderabad underdeveloped.
The issue has transformed from a long-standing demand into an organized campaign. Prakash Ammanabolu, president of the Secunderabad Cloth Merchants Association, highlighted the city's historical administrative status, stating, "Secunderabad was a separate municipal corporation until 1956. We demand the government restore its separate corporation status by also merging the Secunderabad Cantonment Board area."
Political Mobilization and Major Rally Planned
The movement gained substantial political traction recently when Sanathnagar BRS MLA and former minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav convened a meeting with representatives from around 20 organizations. He criticized the ward delimitation process for being conducted without consulting stakeholders. Following this, a decisive action plan was announced.
A broader meeting with all political party leaders from Secunderabad, along with various organizations and caste associations, is scheduled for January 11 at Le Palais Royal Gardens to finalize the strategy. This will culminate in a massive public demonstration. On January 17, a rally expecting around 10,000 people will march from Secunderabad Railway Station to the Mahatma Gandhi statue on MG Road.
The coalition is broad-based, including:
- Pot Market Marwadi Association
- Secunderabad Cloth Merchants Association
- Bengali Samaj
- Multiple vegetable and market associations
- Several caste associations like Nayee Brahmin and Vishwakarma
BRS MLAs T Padma Rao and Mutha Gopal were also present at the planning meetings.
The Parallel Demand for a Separate District
Beyond the municipal corporation, the push for a distinct administrative identity for Secunderabad extends to the district level. With the state government proposing district reorganisation, groups like the Lashkar Jilla Sadhana Samithi have revived calls for a separate Secunderabad district.
Gurram Pavan Kumar, president of the Samithi, proposed that the government should declare the seven assembly constituencies under the Secunderabad Lok Sabha segment as both a new corporation and a new district. These constituencies are Secunderabad, Sanathnagar, Musheerabad, Amberpet, Nampally, Jubilee Hills, and Khairatabad, covering nearly 250 square kilometres.
He noted that while Secunderabad currently has 40 municipal divisions within GHMC, this number is being revised to 67 divisions under the proposed Malkajgiri corporation. Leaders argue that integrating the Cantonment Board area into a unified Secunderabad corporation and district would restore administrative coherence and protect the city's heritage, rather than further fragmenting it.
Congress leaders have sought to frame the demand as one previously ignored. Secunderabad Congress leader Naguluri Krishna Kumar claimed he raised the issue of a separate corporation and district as early as 2015, but it was overlooked by the former BRS government. He expressed optimism that the current government's plan might include a separate corporation for Secunderabad.
