In a bid to mount pressure on the Centre for an early decision on separate Telangana, 37 ruling Congress MLAs, including four ministers, and 28 TDP MLAs from the region today resigned their membership of the Andhra Pradesh assembly.

Four Andhra Pradesh ministers K Jana Reddy, J Geeta Reddy, Ponnala Lakshmaiah and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy submitted resignations from the membership of state Assembly today demanding immediate creation of Telangana state. They submitted their resignations to Assembly Deputy Speaker at 12 noon.

Speaking to the media after submitting their resignations, Panchayati Raj Minister K Jana Reddy, who led the group, said that their decision to resign en masse was only to convey the true feelings of the people of Telangana and not to create political crisis, as being interpreted by some people. Neither they are revolting against the central government nor the party high command, but only have submitted the resignations as per the wishes of the people who resent the Centre's delay in taking a decision in favour of separate Telangana.