State Formation Day: AP caught in existential dilemma

Vijayawada, Oct 30: The Andhra Pradesh government is facing existential dilemma whether to celebrate State Formation Day on November 1 or on June 2. State Formation Day is being celebrated on November 1 for the past 58 years. While some people suggested that the event should be celebrated on November 1 as technically the state remained albeit in a shrunken size, others said that the event should be switched to June 2. A new proposal to celebrate Formation Day on October 1 was also muted. Andhra state was carved out of Madras Presidency on that day in 1953. Andhra state's first Formation Day was celebrated in the presence of Prime Minister of Jawaharlal Nehru and Chief Minister Tanguturi Prakasam Pantulu. October 1 lost it prominence after Andhra state was merged with Hyderabad to form Andhra Pradesh, first linguistic state in the country, on November 1, 1956. The officials sought directive from Chief Minister's office on the arrangements to be made for Formation Day on November 1 but no response has been received so far. With only a day left, officials are clueless whether the government will celebrate the event or not.