While normal life remained paralaysed in Andhra and Rayalseema region for the second consecutive day on Thursday over the Centre's decision to create a separate state of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh appeared to be hurtling towards a deeper political crisis.
In a reflection of the angry mood of the people in the two regions, at least 12 Congress Members of Legislative Assembly submitted their resignations to the Speaker’s office.
The MLAs, including former ministers Gade Venkat Reddy and Union minister D Purandeswari’s husband Daggubati Venkateshwara Rao handed over their letters of resignation to the Legislature Secretary, as Speaker N Manohar was not available.
The MLAs include Adinarayana Reddy, J C Diwakar Reddy, Ugranarasimha Reddy, Sudhakar Murli Krishna, D Venkateshwara Rao (husband of Union minister D Purandeshwari), Venkatramaiah, K Nageshwara Rao, Usha Rani and Ramanjeneyalu.
"We are resigning in accordance with the wish of the people. We cannot face the people in our constituencies without submitting the resignations," said Gade Venkat Reddy.
With this, the number of Seema-Andhra MLAs from various political parties who have resigned has gone up to 37.
This number ias enough to reduce the Kiran Kumar Reddy government to a minority in case the Speaker orders a trial of strength on the floor of the House. But there is no possibility of that in the immediate future.
The number of resignations by Congress MLAs from Andhra and Rayalaseema is increasing by the minute.
Two Congress Members of Legislative Council R Padma Raju and G Srinivasulu Naidu have also submitted their resignations from the Legislative Council.
Gade Venkat Reddy said that all the resignations were in the format required.
“We have sent one line resignation in accordance with the format,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Minister for Infrastructure and Investment Ganta Srinivas Rao had submitted his resignation.
Ministers and Congress MLAs from the two regions today met in Hyderabad to chalk out their strategies. They unanimously decided to quit and mount pressure on the Members of Parliament of their regions to quit.
Image: A rally to demand the state of Telangana ' Photograph: Reuters
