32 MLAs belonging to the Telugu Desam party resigned from their posts today. This is the second time that these MLAs are resigning. The first set of resignations were unceremoniously rejected by the assembly speaker Nadendla Manohar.
The MLAs submitted their resignations to Assembly secretary Dr. Sadaram as the speaker was not in town.
This latest move by TDP MLAs is seen as a desperate last ditch effort to salvage the prospects of the TDP party in Telangana region. The party, which was one of the most powerful parties in Telangana region, has seen a complete erosion of cadre in the last two years. This was a direct result of the party chief Chandra Babu Naidu changing his stand on Telangana.
It should be reminded here that the TDP fought the 2009 state elections with a manifesto that promised Telangana state. But, soon after the centre declared the Telangana state formation, Chandra Babu reversed his stand overnight.
Several TDP MLAs and top leaders have since deserted the party. Among the prominent are the Number 2 in TDP, Nagam Janardhan Reddy and Ex-ministers Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Venugopala Chary.
It is widely speculated that several TDP Telangana MLAs were planning to quit the Telugu Desam party soon.