11 Congress MPs from Seemandhra press for acceptance of their resignation

NEW DELHI: With the Union Cabinet approving the division of Andhra Pradesh, 11 Congress MPs from Seemandhra region, including four central ministers, are likely to press for acceptance of their resignations.

The MPs are likely to meet President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday.

"We have lost everything. Literally, we wanted to quit from Parliament," Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, representing Guntur Lok Sabha constituency, told PTI.

He said Seemandhra Congress MPs would meet at New Delhi to arrive at a consensus over the issue during the weekend.

Union Ministers from Seemandhra region, besides MPs, tendered their resignation to protest the creation of Telangana state by splitting Andhra Pradesh when the issue was brought up during the cabinet meeting on October 3.

However, the Lok Sabha Speaker refused to accept the resignations of the MPs while the Prime Minister rejected the resignations of his cabinet colleagues. Several Ministers continued to execute their official responsibilities.

Another Parliamentarian Sabbam Hari, elected from Anakapalli constituency in coastal Andhra, claimed a letter to withdraw from parliament is under active consideration of most of the Seemandhra Congress MPs.

Claiming that a letter to this effect is being drafted, he said "it is likely to be signed by five MPs today and rest in the coming days," he said.

In the 545-member Lok Sabha, UPA enjoys the support of 281 MPs that include those of outside supporting parties against the requirement of 272. Samajwadi Party (22) and BSP (21) are among the outside supporters.