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Andhra Pradesh Announces Mandal Bifurcation: A Push for Decentralized Governance

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  Published in Politics and Government on Wednesday, December 10th 2025 at 22:37 GMT by The Hans India

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Bifurcation of Mandals in Andhra Pradesh: A Political and Administrative Turning Point

In a move that has sparked both administrative optimism and political fire‑storming, the Government of Andhra Pradesh announced the bifurcation of several mandals across the state. While the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) portrays the decision as a strategic step toward decentralised governance, opposition parties and several local leaders argue that the move represents a significant setback for the party’s own electoral promises. The decision, revealed by the Ministry of Revenue and Disaster Management, aims to create 14–16 new mandals across a handful of districts, primarily in the coastal and inland regions, including Guntur, West Godavari, Prakasam and Kadapa. The exact boundaries and names of the new mandals are still being finalized, but the general outline has already been released to the public.

Why the Bifurcation?

The government’s official rationale hinges on a “proximity to the people” doctrine. YS Mohan Reddy, who has championed administrative reforms for the past three years, explained that smaller mandals would shorten the distance between villagers and revenue offices, expedite the issuance of certificates, and reduce the burden on the state’s over‑taxed civil services. The ministry’s proposal cites data from the 2011 census that shows many mandals contain populations ranging from 70,000 to 120,000 residents—numbers that the state argues are too large for efficient governance.

The YSRCP also points to a successful precedent in Telangana, where a similar bifurcation of mandals in the Hyderabad district led to a 30 % improvement in the timeliness of public service delivery. The government claims that the new mandals will be anchored by a dedicated revenue officer, a public works officer, and a health sub‑center, thereby ensuring a holistic development model that blends infrastructure with welfare services.

Opposition Reaction

Opposition leaders from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have blasted the decision as a “political ploy.” The TDP’s party chief, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, criticized the bifurcation as an attempt to “fragment existing vote banks and dilute opposition support.” He further added that the proposal was conceived during a meeting with a small circle of bureaucrats, without a public consultation phase.

The BJP’s state chief, Subhash Bhat, labelled the move a “major setback” for the YSRCP. According to Bhat, the party’s earlier promises of reducing the number of administrative units for fiscal prudence are contradicted by this new wave of bifurcation. He warned that the increased number of mandals would inevitably lead to higher administrative costs, a point that the ruling party has yet to address transparently.

Citizens and Local Leaders

While political voices clash, the opinions of ordinary citizens and local officials are more mixed. A resident of the Kothapalli mandal in West Godavari, who preferred to remain unnamed, said, “I see the benefit of having a local revenue office—no more long waits at the main office in Gudivada.” Another local politician from the Prakasam district, who supports the YSRCP, argued that the bifurcation would bring better roads and a local hospital.

Conversely, a farmer from the Kadapa district expressed concern that “with the creation of a new mandal, we may have to travel farther to reach the district headquarters.” He feared that the re‑allocation of resources could temporarily weaken development projects that had been underway for months.

Administrative Feasibility and Fiscal Implications

The Ministry of Revenue released a cost estimate in a brief memorandum, stating that the bifurcation would increase the state’s administrative expenditure by an estimated ₹500 crore over the next three years. The memorandum cited additional personnel salaries, infrastructure for new offices, and the costs of boundary demarcation as major factors. The YSRCP has defended these figures, arguing that the long‑term gains in efficiency will offset the initial outlay. However, critics question whether the cost-benefit analysis has been conducted with the requisite rigor.

The memorandum also pointed out that the bifurcation aligns with the state’s “Vision 2030” policy, which envisages a network of “smart mandals” equipped with digital services. While the vision is ambitious, there are doubts about whether the state’s current IT infrastructure can support the new mandate without further investment.

Broader Political Context

The bifurcation comes at a time when the YSRCP is under scrutiny for its handling of the COVID‑19 pandemic, agricultural distress, and the recent floods in the Krishna basin. Critics have long accused the ruling party of prioritising political expediency over genuine welfare measures. The new administrative changes are, therefore, viewed as a double‑edged sword—offering a tangible service improvement on paper while possibly masking an underlying strategy to cement power.

The opposition’s agitation has already translated into protests in several mandal headquarters, where demonstrators have called for a review of the bifurcation plan and a transparent public consultation process. Meanwhile, the government has promised to hold a town‑hall meeting in each affected district within the next fortnight, with a view to addressing public concerns.

Conclusion

The bifurcation of mandals in Andhra Pradesh, while ostensibly aimed at improving administrative efficiency and bringing governance closer to the people, has become a flashpoint in the state’s political landscape. The YSRCP’s argument that smaller units will lead to better service delivery is being weighed against opposition claims that the move is a tactical maneuver to reinforce political dominance and increase state expenditure. Citizens on the ground have mixed feelings: some anticipate immediate benefits, while others fear the disruption of established services.

As the state moves forward with the implementation plan, the key will be how transparently the government handles the fiscal and logistical challenges, and whether it can deliver on its promises of tangible, community‑level improvements. The forthcoming town‑hall discussions will likely be decisive in determining whether the bifurcation will be remembered as a progressive reform or a politically motivated misstep.