HYDERABAD: Telugus prefer to migrate to

and

and make a living, the

from Census 2011 has revealed.

The delayed data from the Census, which was held before

, shows Telugus prefer states from the Deccan Plateau over those in the north or the north-east.

Demographers attribute Telugus’ preference for the south to cultural affinity, boom in IT and language. The data on migration revealed that 8.9 lakh Telugus reside in Karnataka, of which 3.6 lakh are in urban pockets. The data also shows that 1.6 lakh Telugus had shifted to Karnataka for employment, and about 3.4 lakh migrated with families.

Maharashtra has more than four lakh Telugus with about 50% shifting there in search of work. Tamil Nadu is not far behind with 2.8 lakh people from Telangana and AP. Odisha has 1.2 lakh migrants from the Telugu states. Gujarat is home to 46,784 Telugus.

In Kerala, however, there are only 6,269 according to the data. All the Union territories, except Puducherry (32,330), have less than 50

. H Vageshan, assistant professor in political science, National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (Nalsar), Hyderabad, said the migration pattern indicates the conditions prevalent during the British era in AP and Telangana. “Because of Nizam’s rule, Telangana region was a multi-lingual society, and had a good equation with Karnataka and Maharashtra. This pattern has continued,” he said. Vageshan said that most Telugus have not migrated beyond the Deccan plateau — not beyond Mumbai and Nagpur.

The data reveals that people from Telangana have mostly migrated to Karnataka and Maharashtra, while those from AP shifted mostly to Karnataka and Odisha.

In Karnataka, the migrants from Telangana have mostly settled in northern are of Karnataka, such as Bidar, Raichur and Basavakalyan. “People from Zahirabad and Mahbubnagar share a close bond with Karnataka, speak Kannada and even marry into Kannadiga families,” Sandip M of Karnataka Telugu Association told TOI. It may be recalled that during the Karnataka assembly elections, the Janata Dal-Secular had even promised in its manifesto that it would build a Telangana Bhavan for Telugu migrants.

A majority of migrants from AP have made Bengaluru their home, the data revealed. “Very few people who have migrated from Rayalaseema are pursuing business, while most others are employed in the IT sector,” said Sundar Ram, who founded the Karnataka Telugu Association.