Even as seven Congress MPs and a few more Ministers put in their papers on Friday in protest against the impending bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and APCC president Botcha Satyanarayana convened a meeting of public representatives from the Seemandhra region here on Saturday in a bid to resolve the issue.
He said 25 Congress MLAs from Seemandhra had submitted their resignations to him and added that the party High Command was looking into it.
Besides Infrastructure and Investments Minister Ganta Srinavasa Rao, Law Minister E. Pratap Reddy and Minor Irrigation Minister T.G. Venkatesh quit on Thursday, two Ministers - P. Viswarupu (Animal Husbandry) and M. Maheedhar Reddy (Municipal Administration) - handed over their papers to the CM on Friday.
Mr. Satyanarayana said they would request the high command to reconsider its decision favouring bifurcation of the State. The sentiments of Seemandhra people would be conveyed to the Party and all attempts would be made to protect the interests of the region. Appealing to all political parties, people’s organisations and students to observe restraint in the wake of widespread protests in Seemandhra region, he said the public representatives who had resigned were opposed to bifurcation from the beginning. But the Congress central party took the decision in the national interest.
He criticised Telugu Desam and YSR Congress for blaming the Congress party for the Centre’s move to bifurcate the State and said both the parties had committed themselves for the cause of Telangana at their respective party forums earlier. The TDP had passed a resolution at Mahanadu in 2008 declaring support to Telangana, while YSRC had similarly committed itself at the party plenary in 2011.
During the all-party meetings, barring CPI (M) and MIM, all other parties wanted creation of Telangana. But TDP and YSRC parties were blaming the Congress because it was in power.