Political crisis continues in Andhra Pradesh

(December 12, Hyderabad, Sri Lanka Guardian) Andhra Pradesh stood divided on regional lines Friday with as many as 128 legislators submitting their resignations protesting the decision of the central government to carve out a separate Telangana state.Cutting across party lines, 128 legislators from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions have submitted their resignations to Speaker Kiran Kumar Reddy.

A total of 76 legislators of the ruling Congress party, 38 of the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and 14 of Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) have submitted their resignations.

These legislators allege that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre took a "unilateral" decision on carving out a separate Telangana state without consulting them.

There are 175 members from the two regions in the 294-member assembly. The remaining 119 members come from Telangana region.

Earlier, the speaker told the assembly that 102 legislators had submitted their resignations to him since Thursday.

"I have not accepted their resignations and will take a decision after talking to them individually," he said.

Though the speaker said they would continue to be members of the assembly till he accepts their resignations, they kept away from the assembly Friday and the uproar over the issue forced the speaker to adjourn the house till Monday.

Only the ministers and few top leaders from the two regions have not resigned. TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu, who comes from Rayalaseema region and PRP chief K. Chiranjeevi, who hails from Andhra but represents Tirupati constituency in Rayalaseema, have not resigned.

Rosaiah, who comes from Andhra region, is a member of legislative council.

In the 294-member assembly, the Congress has a strength of 156, TDP 92, PRP 18, TRS 10, MIM 7, CPI 4, BJP 2, CPI-M 1, Lok Satta 1 and three others.

Non-Telangana regions of Andhra Pradesh reported protests and bandhs opposing creation of Telangana amidst resignation of Congress, TDP and PRP MLAs.

Incidents of violence and stoning of buses were reported in towns of coastal Andhra and Rayasaleema against the Centre's decision to carve out Telangana state.

Members including PRP Chief Chiranjeevi raised the issue in the house and felt the decision on a separate Telangana should have been taken through consensus.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah has appealed for peace and sought cooperation of all parties to solve the crisis.

Observing that unexpected turn of events took place after the Centre's decision to initiate the process for formation of separate Telangana, Rosaiah said all parties should strive to sort out the issue.

"We are getting reports that students and others in the coastal Andhra region are agitating. Police has entered into Andhra University in Visakhapatnam and is trying to maintain law and order," he said.

"We should together make an appeal to the people to observe restraint. We should all strive for peace," the Chief Minister said.

On the Centre's decision to grant statehood to Telangana, he said he had expressed his views and apprehensions to the Central leaders on the issue.

Rosaiah said that police was trying to maintain law and order in the wake of protests in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.

Meanwhile, TRS chief Chandrasekhar Rao was discharged from hospital after spending 13 days due to his fast for a separate state of Telangana.

-Sri Lanka Guardian