The recent by-elections in the 12 assembly constituencies of Telangana indicate that the separate statehood demand has come to dominate the political discourse of the region. Social classes and groups seem to have left older political affiliations and coalesced around candidates who stand unequivocally for separate statehood. The dominant political parties - the Congress and the Telugu Desam - have paid heavily by not taking a clear stand and trying to play both sides.
