On November 1, 1956, the States Reorganisation Act took effect and Andhra State merged with the Telugu-speaking areas of Hyderabad State to form Andhra Pradesh. This year marks 70 years. President Droupadi Murmu sent Formation Day greetings to the people of the state on Sunday.
Three dates, three claims
- October 1, 1953: Andhra State was carved out of the Madras Presidency, with Kurnool as capital, after Potti Sriramulu's sacrifice. Some argue this is the true formation day.
- November 1, 1956: observed as formation day from 1956 to 2013.
- December 15: the day in 1952 Potti Sriramulu died after a 58-day fast. CM Chandrababu Naidu declared it the "Day of Sacrifice" in December 2025.
After 2014
After Telangana was formed on June 2, 2014, that date became Telangana's formation day. The TDP government then marked June 2 as "Nava Nirmana Deeksha". In 2019 the Jagan government issued a GO to observe November 1 officially. Tupaki and Telugu Times report that the coalition government, in power since 2024, has not observed November 1 as formation day. The government declared Sriramulu's death anniversary the Day of Sacrifice and arranged to unveil a 58-foot bronze statue of him in Amaravati on March 16 this year; the first phase of the 6.80-acre memorial is estimated at ₹150 crore (All India Radio).
Last year on November 1, YSRCP accused the coalition government of undermining Sriramulu's sacrifice. Telugu Times says language enthusiasts want a fixed, official formation day. No government statement on the question was found this year.
