When Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated in 2014, it sought Special Category Status on the grounds that it was at a disadvantage, since it would lose a significant amount of revenue as a result of Hyderabad going to Telangana, the new state that came into existence on June 2, 2014, reports the TOI.


Andhra Pradesh was promised Special Category Status by the Congress government, which was at the Centre during the state bifurcation, and by the BJP during the course of its 2014 election campaign, Manmohan Singh, who was then Prime Minister, said in the Rajya Sabha that special category status would be extended to Andhra Pradesh for five years to help put the state on a firmer footing. This oral submission by the then PM has been the basis for Andhra Pradesh's claim to the status. BJP, which was in the opposition, also stated that its would extend it to five more years if it formed the government.However, the 14th Finance Commission changed this.