More members of legislative assembly resign in Andhra Pradesh

Battling a political backlash with the head-count of MLAs resigning touching 129, the Centre today appeared to be in a damage-control mode over the decision to create a separate Telangana state as the rest of Andhra Pradesh observed a bandh that witnessed sporadic violence.

Prime minister Manmohan Singh today received members of Parliament from coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema, who are opposed to the division of the state, and is said to have assured them that "nothing will be done in haste".

The MPs, including ministers Pallam Raju, conveyed to the prime minister the "mood" of the people for a "united" Andhra Pradesh, and that there was a "tremendous backlash" against the decision to create a separate Telangana.

Even as tensions rose in the state, Union home secretary GK Pillai said in Jammu that he thought Hyderabad "will always be the capital of Telangana".

Facing the brunt of the non-Telangana anger in Congress, Telugu Desam Party and Praja Rajyam, chief minister K Rosaiah said in Hyderabad the resolution favouring a separate state would be moved in the assembly at an "appropriate time", and he does not have answers to questions on the time-frame for the purpose.