Ganta Srinivasa Rao resigns over state bifurcation

Minister for Infrastructure and Investment Ganta Srinivasa Rao on Thursday resigned from his post in the backdrop of mounting protests across Andhra-Rayalaseema regions against the Congress-led UPA Government's decision to bifurcate the state.

Some other ministers from Andhra-Rayalaseema will meet Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy late in the evening and tender their resignations while Congress MLCs and MLAs from the regions will put in their papers in the evening, minister T G Venkatesh said.

But the number of those ready to resign is not clear yet. Though there was no unanimity among the Congress ministers over the resignation issue yesterday, a decision to quit their posts was taken at meeting held in Hyderabad this afternoon.

Ganta wrote a letter to Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy stating that his conscience was not permitting him to continue as a Cabinet minister as the recent developments (over the state bifurcation issue) were against the wishes, sentiments and aspirations of the people.

As an ardent supporter and as a representative of people wishing and praying for united Andhra Pradesh, "it is very painful to note that the UPA government decided in favour of separating the state into two. I strongly believe that the development is not at all acceptable to the people whom I represent. In view of the developments, I hereby tender my resignation from the Cabinet ministership," Ganta said in the letter.