While Seemandhra (the coastal Andhra and Rayalseema regions of undivided Andhra Pradesh) crusaders are battling hard on the streets in the two strife-torn regions, the elected representatives from these regions have been upping the ante for the Congress leadership at the state and the national level with a spate of resignations. At least 11 Congress MPs tendered their resignations today, in tune with the overwhelming public acrimony against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, after the Congress Working Committee took a decision to go ahead with the creation of Telangana.

The resignations brought to an end the suspense surrounding decision of some of these leaders that had been prevailing since last night. However, in a bit of an anti-climax, four union ministers including Pallamraju, Purandeshwari and Killi Krupa Rani, backtracked from their last night’s decision to join the spree of resignations. The development followed swift persuasive efforts by the Congress high command this morning to avert a major embarrassment for the UPA government.

Six MPs, namely Lagadapati Rajagopal of Vijayawada, Anantha Venkatrami Reddy from Ananthapur, Harsha Kumar of Amalapuram, Sai Pratap representing Railway Kodur, Undavalli Arun Kumar of Rajahmundry and Kanumuri Bapiraju, representing Narsapuram, and the chairman of the TTD board, handed their letters to the Lok Sabha speaker. Senior Rajya Sabha member KVP Ramachandra Rao joined them soon by submitting his resignation to the chairman of the Upper House.

Four other Lok Sabha members, Magunta Srinivasa Reddy of Ongole, Rayapati Sambasiva Rao representing Guntur, SPY Reddy from Nandyal and Sabbam Hari of Visakhapatnam, have already faxed their resignations to the speaker.

In the state, the number of ministers opting for the extreme step swelled to six by this afternoon. Viswaroop and Mahidhar Reddy were the latest to relinquish their positions, joining four of their colleagues, Ghanta Srinivasa Rao, Kasu Krishna Reddy, Erasu Pratapa Reddy and T G Venkatesh, who quit last evening.

Adding to the list, 12 more MLAs of both Congress and the TDP, announced their resignations. They faxed their letters to the assembly speaker to this effect.