Seemandhra ministers in a fix as PM sits on their resignations

They exited the govt in protest against AP's bifurcation

Union Ministers from Seemandhra, who exited the government in protest against the move to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh state, are in a bind as their resignations are yet to be accepted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The Congress party also appears to have given the cold shoulder to their posturing in the wake of widespread and sustained protests in the Seemandhra region against the Centre’s decision to carve out a separate Telangana state.

Human Resource Development Minister M M Pallam Raju, Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi, and Minister of State for Commerce D Purandeshwari have not been attending office after they announced their resignation 10 days ago.

However, with the Congress ruling out any rethink on its decision to carve out Telangana, the ministers have no option except to seeking redressing of grievances concerning their respective regions with the Group of Ministers set up to ease the process of bifurcation. Textiles Minister Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, a staunch supporter of united Andhra Pradesh, has not resigned.

He had made a lengthy intervention at the October 3 meeting of the Union Cabinet by making a strong pitch for keeping the state united.

Rao said he would take the grievances of the people of Seemandhra to the Group of Ministers and seek a solution.

Union Ministers V Kishorechandra Deo, Killi Kruparani, Panabaka Lakshmi and Jesudasam Seelam have virtually rejected demands from their respective constituencies to resign from the Council of Ministers.

Lakshmi said she would raise issues concerning her region with the GoM.

The Group of Ministers is expected to hold their second meeting on October 19.

Meanwhile, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar’s office has written to six MPs from Seemandhra to appear before her at their convenience to  clarify on their letters of resignation from the House.

The Memebers of Parliament concerned are G V Harsha Kumar, K Bapiraju, Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, M Sreenivasalu Reddy (all Congress), K Narayana (TDP) and Y S Jaganmohan Reddy (YSRCP).

Lok Sabha members  S P Y Reddy, A Sai Prathap, Lagadapati Rajagopal, A Venkatarami Reddy, Vundavalli Aruna Kumar, Sabbam Hari (all Congress) and Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy (YSRCP) have already met the Speaker and pressed for accepting their resignation.

Rajagopal has also moved the Delhi High Court with a plea to direct the Speaker to accept his resignation as Member of Parliament. The hearing is likely on October 22.