stupid Decision by Centre: T-backlash: MP, MLAs resign; Bandh called in state

he Vijayawada Congress MP, Mr Lagadapati Rajgopal, and 60 MLAs from all parties resigned to protest the Centre's decision to initiate the process of carving Telangana from Andhra Pradesh. Meanwhile, all parties have given a call for a bandh to protest the decision.

Two senior Congress MLAs and former ministers J.C. Diwakar Reddy and D.L. Ravindra Reddy on Thursday also resigned from their post. While Diwakar Reddy represents Tadipatri Assembly constituency in the backward Anantapur district, Ravindra Reddy is from Mydukuru in Kadapa district of Rayalaseema Both were strong proponents of a unified state.

All the MLAs who submitted resignations belong to coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions of the State. However, the Assembly speaker is yet to accept their resignations. The Congress has 158 out of the 294 seats in the Assembly with just 10 seats majority.

The MLAs have strongly decried the Congress high command's "unilateral decision" to initiate the process for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

"This decision is very painful for us. Lakhs of poeple from other regions of the state have come to Hyderabad in search of livelihood. What would be their fate if the state is split," P. Venkatramaya, a Congress legislator from Krishna district, said in the Assembly.

Telugu Desam MLA P. Raghunatha Reddy said they resigned from their posts as the Congress took a unilateral decision to move a motion in the state assembly for the formation of Telangana State.

Informed sources said TDP MLA Ramakrishna from Venkatagiri in Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district too resigned.

But TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu is said to be dissuading his party MLAs from doing so.

Congress sources said many more MLAs from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema have said they would resign ahead of the proposed resolution in the Assembly seeking creation of Telangana state.

Several ministers and MLAs hailing from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions have strongly decried the Congress high command's "unilateral decision" to initiate the process for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

The Congress legislators from these regions are in consultation with their colleagues in Telugu Desam Party and trying to muster support against the division of the state.