MLA quits Congress over creation of Telangana, set to join YSRCP

VISAKAPATNAM: The Congress MLA from Vizag (North), T Vijay Kumar, today resigned from the party in protest against its high command's decision to go ahead with the move to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh in order to create a separate Telangana state.

Vijay Kumar is now set to join the YSR Congress Party tomorrow in the presence of its leader Jaganmohan Reddy at a rally.

The MLA alleged that the Congress leadership had not given due respect to the resolution which was passed by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly opposing the state's division.

The ruling Congress is expected to witness large-scale migration of its leaders from the Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions once the formation of Telangana is okayed.

According to sources, several Congress leaders in the two regions are expected to join either the Telugu Desam Party or YSR Congress ahead of the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

The Union Cabinet cleared the Telangana Bill yesterday and the Centre is gearing up to table the contentious legislation in Parliament on February 12.