The shutdown in 13 districts of Rayalseema and coastal Andhra Pradesh to protest the bifurcation of the state continued for a second day as 11 MPs and union cabinet minister Chiranjeevi resigned.
As per PTI reports, 11 MPs, including four central ministers, belonging to Indian National Congress from Seemandhra region have issued their letters of resignation, which the Lok Sabha speaker refused to accept.
"We have lost everything. Literally, we wanted to quit from Parliament," Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, representing Guntur Lok Sabha constituency, told PTI.
The 11 MPs will meet President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday to press for the acceptance of their resignation.
Another Congress parliamentarian Sabbam Hari from Anakapalli constituency in Vishakapatnam district told the news agency that most of the Seemandhra Congress MPs have been considering to resign after the Centre approved creation of Telangana state by splitting Andhra Pradesh.
"It is likely to be signed by five MPs today and rest in the coming days," he said.
Interestingly, the ministers announced their resignation after AP Chief Minister and Congress leader Kiran Kumar Reddy held a meeting with 40 central and state ministers from the Seemandhra region.
"The meeting chaired by the CM decided to seek the support of YSR Congress and TDP MLAs from Seemandhra to oppose division. We also decided to seek legal remedies to oppose the Telangana Bill in the assembly. We're looking forward to working with other political parties," S Sailajanath told TOI.
Union Tourism Minister Chiranjeevi resigned on Thursday night to support the 'United Andhra' cause. "I expected to do some justice for both regions but I feel that it has not been done. I think this is the reason and I'm very much displeased," he said.
Meanwhile, the bandh called by YSR Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy, who has been mobilizing regional parties and leaders against formation of Telangana, and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu continued on Saturday.
