KCR steps down as TRS president

HYDERABAD: K Chandrasekhara Rao, president of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), on Friday tendered his resignation to the party���s working committee, a day after handful of rebels from TRS launched a new outfit called the Telangana Vimochana Samithi.

The veteran Telangana leader claimed he was upset by the vicious ���propaganda��� launched against him and had no alternative but to step down. However, a final decision on his resignation would be taken by the working committee.

This is the second time that the TRS chief has offered to quit. Last year, he tendered his resignation after the party���s defeat in the bye-elections, but it was turned down by the working committee. He has been under pressure to quit after the party���s poor performance at the hustings.

KCR, who has been championing the cause of state-hood for Telangana, had forged a pre-poll tie-up with the main opposition Telugu Desam Party to oust Congress. ���I was successful in turning the spotlight on the Telangana issue. But I have been upset by the vicious propaganda launched against me,��� KCR is reported to have said in his letter.

However, with Congress recapturing Hyderabad, the Telangana issue has ceased to be in the spotlight. The Telangana region comprises 10 districts of Telugu-speaking region ruled by the erstwhile Nizam.