In a major jolt to Congress, 18 MLAs have sent in their resignations to Speaker Nadendla Manohar on Thursday in protest against the high command’s move to concede Telangana.

It may be recalled that Seemandhra leaders had threatened the high command to quit their posts if the state was divided. However, the Congress took the bold step of announcing a verdict in favour of Telangana.

This put Congress leaders from Seemandhra in a fix, particularly the Congress legislators. After weighing the pros and cons of losing their posts, many MLAs and a few ministers decided to stick to their stand and quit their posts.

Gade Venkata Reddy, JC Diwakar Reddy, Daggubati Venkateswara Rao, Anam Vivekananda Reddy, Murali Krishna, Adinarayana Reddy, Kamalamma and K. Nageswara Rao are among those who tendered resignations.

Four members of legislative council have also submitted their resignation to the Secretary at the assembly.

After a meeting at ministers' quarters in Hyderabad, they decided to go ahead with the resignations.

The Seemandhra leaders submitted their resignations in prescribed format to the speaker of the Assembly and announced that they will actively participate in the Samaikyandhra agitation. "We decided to participate in the people's agitation against state's division," they said.

Many said they will fight till their last breath to keep the state united. (Also Read)

With pressure mounting and the threat of Congress government collapsing, will High command reconsider its decision?

Let's wait and watch.
- Siva@sakshipost