Hyderabad, Dec 24 (IANS) The central government Wednesday softened its stance on the formation of a separate Telangana state stressing the need to hold consultations with all political parties on the issue. The move plunged Andhra Pradesh into crisis as Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao resigned as MP and over 20 state legislators also quit.
The TRS has also called for a 48-hour shutdown.

After coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions witnessed protests against the proposed bifurcation of the state for nearly a fortnight, the government said there was need to hold wide-ranging consultations with all political parties on the issue.

Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s Dec 9 announcement about the government’s acceptance of the demand for a separate Telangana sparked off a political tempest with mass resignations by legislators from all parties in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.

In his statement Wednesday, Chidambaram said the situation had changed in the state and political parties were divided on the issue.

“A statement was made on behalf of the central government on Dec 9. However, after the statement, the situation in Andhra (Pradesh) has altered. A large number of political parties are divided on the political issue. There is a need to hold wide-ranging consultations with all political parties in the state,” he said.

Chidambaram said the government would take steps to involve all concerned in the process of talks.

“The central government appeals to all people of Andhra Pradesh and to all political parties and students to withdraw their agitation and maintain peace, harmony and brotherhood,” he said, adding that the state government should be allowed to focus on governance.

While the parties in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema hailed the statement and leaders who were on hunger strike ended their protests, it evoked strong reactions from all parties in Telangana.

KCR, as the TRS chief is popularly known, faxed his resignation to protest the government move to put the Telangana issue on the backburner.

Tension prevailed in the region comprising Hyderabad and nine other districts as protests broke out at several places. Students came out on streets, protesting the latest statement.

KCR, whose 11-day hunger strike had forced the government to issue the Dec 9 statement, alleged that the government had again betrayed the people of Telangana.

“People of Telangana have been once again betrayed. The statement has no clarity and no time frame,” he said.

“How long will it take for the formation of Telangana state? Another 50 years? How many more people have to die?” he asked.

Another TRS MP from Medak, Vijayashanti, also sent her resignation.

Over 20 legislators from Telangana, including all 10 of TRS, sent their resignations to assembly speaker Kirankumar Reddy. Legislators of the ruling Congress and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) have also resigned. Both the legislators of the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) from the region also put in their papers.

There are 119 members from Telangana in 294-member assembly. The Congress has 50 legislators while the TDP has 38.

The TRS, which had announced plans to hold a victory rally in Warangal Thursday, cancelled it and called for a 48-hour shutdown in Telangana instead.

The mass resignations were announced even as the state cabinet welcomed Chidambaram’s statement and appealed to all legislators from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema to take back their resignations.

Over 140 legislators from Andhra and Rayalaseema cutting across party lines had submitted their resignations to the speaker after the Dec 9 statement.

KCR said the Joint Action Committee of all parties and groups fighting for Telangana state would be formed Thursday to decide the future course of action.

Chief Minister K. Rosaiah hoped the government’s statement Wednesday would satisfy people of all regions and would help restore public life and administration which had been paralysed for a fortnight.