Hyderabad:
A total of 100 MLAs from different parties in Andhra Pradesh have resigned, demanding a new state of Telangana. Home Minister P Chidambaram said in Delhi today that the Centre is not yet considering President's Rule for the state. He also said that his party is upset about the bulk resignations, and that the Congress hopes to "engage with" its politicians from Telangana region through more discussions in Delhi.
Hyderabad and other parts of Telangana remained paralysed today as a massive bandh called by pro-Telangana activists entered its second day. The Home Minister said he is hoping that the protests will not upset the delicate law and order.
Schools and colleges are closed, entrance exams in Osmania University have been postponed and there are no Road Transport Corporation (RTC) buses on the roads.
Osmania University continues to be tense. Students fought pitched battles with the police on the campus yesterday and pro-Telangana protesters clashed with police on the second day of the bandh too, despite heavy police security. University students are planning a rally and a Telangana employees union will meet today to decide on boycott of work or non-cooperation.
As more resignations poured forth from leaders from Telangana across different parties on Tuesday, the Centre yesterday indicated that it was open to a new round of discussions on whether Andhra Pradesh should be bifurcated.
"It is time for discussion on a separate state (for Telangana)," said senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad. He however made it clear that this is a "sensitive and complex issue" that needs "wider consultations." His comments preceded a discussion with Congress MPs and MLAs on the resignations they have submitted, demanding that the union government make its stand clear on the issue of a new state for their homeland.
Later in the evening, Telangana Congress MPs also met senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee. There are more meetings planned today.
A total of 100 MLAs from Telangana have quit the Assembly, which has a total of 295 seats. The resignations include 45 from the Congress, 11 from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), 37 from the Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP), and both legislators from Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam Party (PRP).
The 48-hour bandh called by the Telangana Joint Action Committee will be followed by student rallies on Thursday and rail blockades are planned on Friday and Saturday.