Telugu Desam Party leaders from Telangana on Thursday began a bus tour to create an "awakening" among the people of the region on the creation of a separate state.

Over 20 TDP MLAs from Telangana who quit their posts over the demand for a separate state paid tributes to martyrs at the Gun Park Memorial before embarking on their week-long journey.

The bus yatra will cover all the 10 districts in the region. Telangana Praja Front Leader Gaddar flagged-off the bus tour, while other pro-statehood groups have extended support to the TDP leaders.

The yatra is being undertaken under the banner of Telangana Telugu Desam Forum. On   the occasion, Telangana Telugu Desam Forum Convener E Dayakar Rao said they would get their resignations accepted after the bus yatra so as to create a constitutional crisis and step up pressure on the Centre for creation of separate state