Sunday, July 17 2005 11:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Hyderabad: Ending speculations over possible rapprochement between ruling Congress and TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samithi), Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy yesterday (July 16, 2005) accepted the resignations of six TRS Ministers, who had pulled out of the Government recently on Telangana statehood issue.

Reddy, who is under attack from his estranged ally for adopting "anti-Telangana policy", forwarded his acceptance to Governor Sushilkumar Shinde.

Five TRS Ministers Vijayarama Rao, Capt Lakshmikanta Rao, A Chandrasekhar, N Narasimha Reddy and Harish Rao had resigned on July 4 protesting delay in the process for formation of Telangana State while another TRS Minister S Santhosh Reddy put in his paper on July 14.

With this, the efforts by Congress high command for a patch-up between the state unit and TRS have come to a nought, indicating that the relations between the two pre-poll allies have soured beyond a point of redemption.

The Chief Minister's decision comes in the midst of TRS gearing up for its public meeting at Warangal on July 18 where the sub regional party is expected to launch an all out attack on the Congress Government for the alleged neglect of Telangana region.

While pulling out of the Congress-led Government in the State, the TRS, which had two ministers in the Central Cabinet, continues to support the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) Government, apparently to mount pressure on the Congress leadership to grant statehood.