Telangana issue: Shutdown in coastal Andhra,Rayalseema

The political crisis in Andhra Pradesh over the Telangana issue intensified on Friday with the number of MLAs resigning climbing to 128 as protests broke out in non-Telangana regions over the Centre’s decision to split the state.

23 more MLAs submitted their resignation to Speaker Kirankumar Reddy. In all 76 MLAs from Congress have resigned,38 from TDP and 14 from PRP in the 294-member Assembly.

Amid a debate over whether or not to continue Assembly proceedings in the wake of the en masse resignations of legislators,the Speaker adjourned the House till Monday.

The Speaker made it clear that he has to speak to all those who quit before taking a decision after ascertaining if they resigned due to their own volition or due to any compulsion.

In view of the crisis,the state government is holding consultations with the Attorney General. Chief Minister K Rosaiah has called a meeting of floor leaders of all parties to take stock of the situation.

In New Delhi,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met Andhra MPs to take stock of the situation. The Central Government is now caught between the pro and anti-Telangana camps. It can neither afford to go back on its decision to carve out the Telangana state,nor can it allow the State government to be reduced to a minority.

Senior Congress leaders,including Congress President Sonia Gandhi are involved in pacifying the MPs and MLAs from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema region.

There are reports that the Centre is trying to convince the MLAs and MPs to evolve a consensus over the issue.

The Congress requires a consent from the disappointed MLAs and MPs to get the Telangana resolution passed in the assembly.

The Telangana region accounts for 119 of the 294 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh and 17 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats.