Telangana steering committee meet today, decision on mass resignations likely

Hyderabad:  Stumped by the rejection of their mass resignations by Andhra Pradesh Speaker, Telangana Congress leaders are mulling their next course of action, while their counterparts and leaders of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) said they are ready to put in their papers again.

"The steering committee of Telangana Congress leaders would meet in Delhi and take a collective decision on our future course of action," Congress MP Manda Jagannath told reporters.

He was speaking after a meeting of the Telangana Congress MPs, MLAs and also ministers at the residence of state Panchayati Raj Minister K Jana Reddy in Hyderabad.

Congress MLA Jupally Krishna Rao, however, said they did not submit resignations in a fit of emotion but did so conscientiously after exhausting all options.

With some MLAs reportedly not in favour of resigning again, Telangana Congress leaders are said to be contemplating submitting their resignations to the party leadership in Delhi.

Asked about the options before them, Jagannath said it would be known by Monday.

Congress Lok Sabha member Madhu Yashki Goud said talks is the only way to address the vexed issue.

Telangana Congress leaders would meet Union Minister and AICC in-charge of Congress affairs in Andhra Pradesh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, on Monday night as part of the consultation process initiated by him to resolve the contentious statehood issue.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) from Telangana sought to mount pressure on the Congress by asserting that they are ready to submit their resignations again for Telangana.

"The Speaker has rejected our resignations under the influence of the Centre. We condemn this rejection of resignations. We will continue our fight till Telangana is achieved," senior TDP MLA M Narasimhulu told PTI.

The party is contemplating taking legal recourse against the Speakers decision as the resignations were rejected without consulting any leaders, he said.

Suspended TDP MLA Nagam Janardhan Reddy said he and three other rebel party legislators K Harishwar Reddy, S Venugopalachary and Jogu Ramanna  have sent their resignations again.

Meanwhile, TRS MLA T Harish Rao said Telangana Congress leaders and ministers, who have tendered resignations, should try to get them accepted.

TRS has already announced that its MLAs would submit resignations again.

Slamming the Speakers decision, Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) convener M Kodandaram claimed that it was unilateral.

"TDP MLAs told Speaker that their resignations are voluntary."

(Suspended TDP leader) Nagam Janardhan Reddy and his supporters held a dharna at the Speakers office.

"It was Speaker who came under influence and took this unilateral decision. We can put pressure on Speaker by submitting resignations again," he said.