Digvijaya persuades central ministers from Seemandhra not to quit

Union ministers from Rayalaseema and Andhra regions of Andhra Pradesh dropped their plans to resign in protest against the proposed division of the state after Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh assured them that their concerns would be addressed

Six out of 10 central ministers from Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra) called on Digvijaya Singh, who is also incharge of the party affairs in Andhra Pradesh.

D. Purandeswari, one of the ministers who met him, said he assured her that a high- level committee would be constituted to look into the concerns of the people of Seemandhra.

"We had gone with our resignations but he refused to accept them," she said.

The ministers briefed the Congress leader of the apprehensions of the people with regard to Hyderabad, sharing of water, revenue, electricity and other issues.

They said the Congress Working Committee (CWC) should have consulted them and taken their views into consideration before taking a decision on carving separate Telangana state.

Another minister K. Krupa Rani said Digvijaya Singh advised them not to lose the opportunity to put forward their point of view in parliament when the bill is tabled. "He said resignations are not a proper step as you are responsible persons in the central government," she said.

The central ministers will meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi Saturday.