1972 Five Point Formula in Telangana Movement
The year 1972 was one of the most crucial phases in the political history of Andhra Pradesh. After the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956 through the States Reorganisation Act, discontent continued to rise in the Telangana region due to violations of the Gentlemen’s Agreement and Mulki rules. Similarly, in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema, dissatisfaction also grew, leading to the Jai Andhra Movement of 1972.
To bring stability and resolve the crisis, the Government of India under Prime Minister Indira Gandhi introduced the Five Point Formula on November 27, 1972. This proposal was aimed at addressing the demands of both Telangana and Andhra regions by balancing issues of employment, education, and regional representation.
Background of the Five Point Formula
After the Supreme Court of India upheld the validity of Mulki rules in October 1972, people from Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema opposed the implementation, demanding a separate Andhra state. This led to the launch of the Jai Andhra Movement. On the other hand, people in Telangana strongly wanted Mulki rules to be implemented in their region for fair employment opportunities.
The situation worsened with political resignations, violent protests, and increasing regional divisions. To pacify both sides, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi announced the Five Point Formula.
The Five Point Formula (1972)
- Mulki Rules: Mulki rules were to continue in Telangana region for recruitment to certain non-gazetted posts such as Tahsildar, Assistant Surgeon, Junior Engineer, and clerical staff in secretariat departments. One-third of these posts were to be reserved under Mulki rules.
- Time Frame: Mulki rules would remain valid in twin cities (Hyderabad and Secunderabad) until 1977 and in other Telangana districts until 1980.
- Localization of Jobs: Both Telangana and Andhra regions would have job opportunities localized up to gazetted level to ensure fair representation of local candidates.
- Educational Reforms: In twin cities, the number of seats in educational institutions would be increased. The additional seats would be treated as "open seats," accessible to students from all regions.
- Police Force Division: In the twin cities, separate police forces for both regions were to be created. For this, necessary legislation would be introduced in Parliament.
This formula was accepted as a middle path solution to ease tensions between the two regions. Later, on December 31, 1972, the bill implementing these measures was passed in Parliament.
Andhra Sena (1972)
- The Andhra Sena was established on December 17, 1972 under the leadership of Madala Janaki Ram.
- Pichayya Naidu acted as the advisor to Andhra Sena.
- Executive members included leaders like Jaggarlamudi Durga Prasad and Valina Surya Bhaskara Rao.
- The main resolution of Andhra Sena was the demand for a separate Andhra state.
Jai Andhra Front
- Another strong organization that emerged was the Jai Andhra Front, formed to fight for the creation of a separate Andhra state.
- Prominent Andhra leaders like Gouthu Latchanna and Tenneti Viswanadham actively led this front.
- Interestingly, the Jai Andhra Front also invited Telangana leaders to their meetings. B. Satyanarayana Reddy, leader of the Telangana Praja Samithi, attended one of their conferences.
- The Jai Andhra Movement further intensified when Deputy Chief Minister B.V. Subba Reddy resigned from his post and organized a massive conference at Tirupati on December 31, 1972.
The Jai Andhra Movement grew stronger, while Telangana leaders demanded strict implementation of Mulki rules. To balance these conflicting demands, the Five Point Formula was introduced as a compromise.
Impact of the Five Point Formula
The Five Point Formula brought temporary peace but could not fully satisfy either region. For Telangana, the limited extension of Mulki rules seemed insufficient. For Andhra, continuation of Mulki rules was unacceptable. However, the formula helped in preventing the state from a complete political breakdown during 1972-73.
It is important to note that the discontent did not end here. The issues of regional imbalance and discrimination continued to exist. Eventually, these historical struggles contributed to the rise of the separate Telangana movement, which culminated in the formation of Telangana state in 2014.
Conclusion
The 1972 Five Point Formula was a significant attempt by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to resolve the crisis caused by the Jai Andhra Movement and the Telangana demand. Although it did not provide a permanent solution, it remains a landmark event in the history of Andhra Pradesh politics. The formula highlighted the challenges of balancing regional aspirations, employment policies, and educational opportunities in a linguistically reorganized state.