The Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party’s 37 MLAs, including four rebels, resigned apart from two MLAs from actor-turned politician Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party.
Demanding separate statehood for Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, 40 Congress MLAs, including nine ministers, 12 members of the legislative council and 11 ministers from the Andhra Pradesh assembly resigned on Monday. The Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party’s 37 MLAs, including four rebels, resigned apart from two MLAs from actor-turned politician Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam Party. With this, the total number of MLAs resigning in support of Telangana has now reached 79.
Expecting demonstrations following the resignations, the joint action committee spearheading the movement for a separate state called for a 48-hour shutdown starting on Tuesday.
“We want a clear announcement on the issue. If the Centre and the party cannot take a decision, we want them to accept our resignations,” said senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member K Keshava Rao. “We are answerable to our people and are under pressure from them to achieve statehood to the region.”
The Congress high command has summoned three representatives from the disgruntled MLAs to Delhi. Ministers Jana Reddy, B Saraiah and Ponnala Lakshmaiah went to the national capital, but had not met senior Congress leaders till late on Monday.
The ruling Congress has 50 MLAs, the main opposition has 37, Telangana separatist party TRS has 12 while the remaining are shared by the MIM, PRP, CPI, CPM, Lok Satta and Independents.
The state cabinet has 15 ministers representing Telangana. Eleven resigned on Monday.
The Congress has 12 MPs from the Telangana region. “Seven of us offered our resignations to the speaker. Two others have faxed their resignations,” MP from Karimnagar Ponnam Prabhakar said.
“I am confident that Sonia Gandhi will take a decision in favour of Telangana state,” said MP S Satyanarayana who refused to resign.
The speaker’s office refused to comment on the resignations. Deputy speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka accepted the resignations as speaker N Manohar is in the US. “I will have to examine the resignations. I cannot say whether or not they have been accepted,” Vikramarka said.
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