29 pro-Jagan MLAs, 2 MPs to quit AP assembly

The ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday appeared to be heading for fresh trouble with 29 MLAs loyal to Y S Jaganmohan Reddy deciding to quit in protest against mention of late YSR's name in the FIR of CBI in its probe in the case related to the Kadapa MP.

"It is unfortunate that his name is mentioned by CBI in FIR. In protest, we are all resigning from our membership. 29 MLAs and two MPs are going to resign," Congress MP M Rajamohan Reddy told mediapersons in Hyderabad.

The two Congress MPs who have decided to quit are Rajamohan Reddy (Nellore) and Sabbam Hari (Anakapalle).

The 29 MLAs include B Sobha Nagi Reddy, a rebel MLA of Praja Rajyam, and two rebel MLAs of Telugu Desam Party.

The MLAs would submit their resignations to the assembly speaker at 11 am on Monday, Congress MLA P Subhash Chandra Bose said.

Three Jagan-loyalist Congress MLAs -- Konda Surekha, Jayasudha and K Satyawati -- had earlier submitted their resignations in support of Telangana cause.

The decision by the 29 Jagan-loyalist MLAs and two MPs came in the wake of searches by CBI at the residence and offices of Jagan and also the companies who invested in the firms owned by the Kadapa MP.

The CBI has alleged that Jaganmohan Reddy conspired with his father late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and other individuals and companies to "cheat the government of Andhra Pradesh in the matter of granting certain favours."

Image: Jagan-loyalist MLAs protest in Hyderabad on Saturday

Photograph: SnapsIndia