Ministers, MPs from Andhra firm on exit

With the Centre deciding to go ahead with the creation of a separate Telangana state, Union ministers from the Seemandhra region have begun putting in their papers in protest against the move. In Chiranjeevi’s footsteps, M. Pallam Raju (HRD minister) and Surya Kotla Prakash Reddy (MoS, railways) too have submitted resignations. Aides of K. Sambasiva Rao (textiles), D. Purandeswari (MoS commerce) and Killi Kruparani (MoS IT and communications) said that they too had quit the Manmohan Singh government. Seemandhra MPs too have begun to quit the party, but the Congress remains defiant on the bifurcation decision. Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde described resignations and protests as “natural” whenever a new state is formed. In an attempt to stall the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal vowed to move the Supreme Court, terming the move “unconstitutional” and “undemocratic”. He said: “I will move the Supreme Court challenging the Cabinet’s decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.” Vowing to defeat the resolution in the state Assembly, Mr Rajagopal said strict guidelines should be followed while