Praja Rajyam Party president K. Chiranjeevi on Thursday announced the reversal of his party’s stand on Telangana and submitted his resignation as MLA to the Speaker owning moral responsibility for his political turnaround.
Explaining the change in the party’s policy in favour of a unified Andhra Pradesh, he said it had to respect the opinion of the majority of the people. He would campaign in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions in support of an integrated State.
With his announcement, the total number of MLAs, who have handed in their papers to the Speaker, now stands at 144. They include 15 out of the 18 MLAs of the Praja Rajyam Party.
Even as Mr. Chiranjeevi was addressing journalists, several party activists from Telangana tried to barge into the party office, but were prevented by the police.
Mr. Chiranjeevi attributed the “unprecedented political crisis” to the unilateral decision taken by the Congress to initiate the process for formation of a Telangana state. His party debated the entire issue at length and took the decision in tune with the sentiments of the majority of the people.
Mr. Chiranjeevi said the party was of the opinion that the movement for united Andhra Pradesh was stronger than that of Telangana.
