The en masse resignations infused a new sense of belligerence into the statehood movement with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president warning that the region would turn into a “fireball” if the Centre failed to accept the demand for a separate state. A 48-hour bandh has been called across the region from tomorrow, setting the tone for a prolonged
agitation.
The dramatic developments unfolded simultaneously in Hyderabad and Delhi as the elected representatives put in their papers even as the damage-control exercise launched by the Congress high command failed to yield any result.
Among those who quit their posts were 11 Telangana ministers, out of 15 from the region. Out of 12 Congress MPs from the region, nine submitted their resignations along with Rajya Sabha member K Kesava Rao.
The Union Petroleum Minister S Jaipal Reddy is among the MPs who have refused to quit. In all, 82 MLAs and 15 MLCs handed over their resignations to Deputy Speaker Bhatti Vikramarka and Legislative Council Chairman A Chakrapani, respectively. This includes 36 of the 50 Congress MLAs, all 37 TDP MLAs and two legislators from Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), which has since merged with the Congress.
The Telangana region accounts for 119 seats in the 294-member Assembly and 17 MPs out of the total 42 from the state.
The resignation drama has put the UPA government in a fix. With the Telangana protagonists firmly ruling out withdrawing their resignations, citing tremendous public pressure in their constituencies, the Centre may be left with only two options: Either grant statehood to Telangana or impose President’s rule to end the political instability.
Political observers say that Andhra Pradesh is inexorably headed towards President’s rule as Telangana issue has become too hot to handle.
There are clear indications that the UPA government is not inclined to carve out Telangana state for fear of opening a Pandora’s box and triggering similar demands from several regions across the country.
It is said to be actively considering formation of an autonomous Telangana Regional Council in what is being called in political circles as the “Darjeeling model”. A comprehensive financial package for the region is also believed to be under its consideration.
“Our intention is not to create a constitutional or political crisis. We have resigned for the sake of a legitimate cause. Our resignations are guided by the aspirations of the people of Telangana,” senior minister from the region K Jana Reddy.
“July 4 is the United States' Independence Day and we hope today will also become Telangana's Independence Day,” he quipped.
The resignation move is aimed at forcing the Centre to accept the demand for separate state as promised by it on December 9, 2009.
Soon after submitting their resignations, the Telangana ministers met the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and explained to him the reasons for their action.
Four ministers from the region, including Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha, chose not to follow their colleagues.
Meanwhile, the Telangana protagonists are bracing up for a long-drawn agitation.
The 48-hour shutdown will be followed by student rallies across the region on July 7 and “rail roko” for two days.
