TDP MLAs refuse to resign over Telangana crisis

The Telegu Desam Party, which had threatened to resign en masse from the state assembly unless the Centre initiated proceedings for the creation of a separate Telangana state, has decided to play it safe. TDP Members of Legislative Assembly from the Telangana region have decided to resign from the assembly only if Congress MLAs from the region do so first.

Following the meeting, TDP MLA Nagam Janardhan Reddy said, "There is no point if only the TDP MLAs resign. Our resignations will only ensure that by-elections are held (in our constituencies) and this will not serve the purpose in any way. However, if the Congress MLAs resign, there will be a constitutional crisis and this is the only way the Union government will react and give in to our demands."

Defending the party's decision to backtrack on their previous stance, he added, "We are in no way suggesting that we do not want the state to be formed quickly. All we are saying is that our resignations should have some meaning. The resignations will have meaning only if the Congress MLAs lead this movement. If the Congress MLAs resign, their party high command would be under pressure and they would respond immediately to the demands."

This decision by the TDP has put the pro-Telangana movement on the back-foot and the unity of the Telangana Joint Action Committee in further jeopardy.

Earlier, Congress leaders had told rediff.com that they will not resign from their posts since they didn't feel that bringing down the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh was the right solution. They had also threatened to pull out of the JAC if they were forced to resign.