JOIN USSpeaker N Kiran Kumar Reddy sought the opinion of all parties whether the House should continue with its business or not, in the wake of the resignation of 128 members belonging to the ruling Congress, Telugu Desam and Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam.
He made it clear that the MLAs would continue to be members of the House until he took a decision on the matter.
"I have to speak to them before taking a decision. I have to ascertain whether they submitted their resignations under any pressure or voluntarily," he said.
Responding to a query from Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, the Speaker said the question whether the government is in majority or not would not arise as the resignations have not been accepted.
The Speaker sought the opinion of all parties whether to continue the proceedings or not.
Urging the Speaker not to accept the resignation as it may lead to a crisis, senior legislators from all parties felt that the House should continue with its business as the resignations were submitted in an emotional state.
The legislators, including Chiranjeevi, felt that the government should have consulted all parties before taking the decision.
As the debate was continuing, some members who sent in their resignations entered the House raising slogans against the division of Andhra Pradesh. Those in favour of separate Telangana countered them by raising slogans in support of their demand.
Amid the din, the Speaker adjourned the House for 15 minutes.
Speaking after the House re-assembled, Chief Minister K Rosaiah appealed for peace and sought the cooperation of all parties to sort out the political crisis that arose after the en masse resignation of MLAs.
Observing that unexpected turn of events took place after the Centre's decision to initiate the process for formation of separate Telangana, Rosaiah said all parties should strive together to sort out the issue.
"We are getting reports that students and others in the coastal Andhra region are agitating. Police has entered into Andhra University in Visakhapatnam and is trying to ensure that there is no law and order problem," he said.
"We should together make an appeal to the people to observe restraint. We should all strive for peace," the Chief Minister said.
Meanwhile, the Speaker said he would seek legal opinion on the situation arising out of the en masse resignation of MLAs.
As the members began slogan shouting for and against division of the state, the Speaker adjourned the House till Monday.