The showdown of strength has begun between the Congress government and YSR Congress Party in the wake of CBI raids on Jagan and his associates. According to sources, the YSR Congress party is planning its own counter-offensive by ensuring that the resignations tendered by all 29 Congress MLAs are accepted.

They are also hoping to get more MLAs to resign. Ministers and MLAs from Chittoor, the home district of the Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, are being lured to resign, sources informed. The names being sounded are those of Mr Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, Mr G. Kutuhulamma and Mr Shajahan - all Congress MLAs from Chittoor district who are likely to resign within a week, sources said.

Sources in the YSR Congress say that a minister from the Telangana region, who is not on good terms with the CM, has been asked to get more MLAs to resign. All 29 legislators who have resigned are expected to become members of the YSR Congress in the next few days in order pressurise the Speaker to accept their resignations. "We will wait for the Speaker's announcement for one or two days, thereafter we take YSR Congress membership and submit a letter to the Speaker to recognise us as legislators belonging to the YSR Congress party," a source said.

They also plan to meet the Governor and inform him of the circumstances that led to their resignations. They may even submit a letter withdrawing their support. They have also planned to tour the districts by bus from September 2 after paying homage to the late Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on the eve of his second death anniversary.