Telangana statehood row: Resignation reports are rumors, says Andhra CM Reddy

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, who is opposition to the creation of a separate state of Telangana, on Tuesday termed reports of his resignation to be rumors.

Reddy, who has arrived in the national capital ahead of a crucial decision on Telangana, has reportedly been persuaded not to resign in protest against his party's decision.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister is expected to meet Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at around 4 p.m. He will also meet other Congress leaders in the national capital.

The UPA Government is to take a final call this evening on the demand for a separate state of Telangana. Hectic political parleys have been underway in the national capital for the last few days.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi today met the Prime Minister at his residence after she held a meeting with senior party leaders, including Sushil Kumar Shinde, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Digvijay Singh and Ahmed Patel.

Congress leaders from Andhra Pradesh, who are against the bifurcation of the state, earlier met Digvijay Singh, who is the in-charge of party's affairs in the state, to register their protest over creation of Telangana.

Union Human Resource and Development (HRD) Minister M.M. Pallam Raju, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, said leaders like him are worried about 'long-term implications' of today's decision.

"I think the core committee has discussed the matter at length and we are all worried about it that whatever decision that they may make is going to have a long term implication in Andhra Pradesh and we are worried about that and that's exactly what we have come to express our apprehension to the general secretary," he told mediapersons after meeting Digvijay Singh.

Several Congress leaders are also meeting Sonia Gandhi at her official 10, Janpath residence here.