Tuesday, September 12 2006 14:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Hyderabad: Three weeks after quitting the UPA Government, Telangana Rashtra Samithi supremo K Chandrasekhara Rao today (Sept 12,2006) announced his resignation from the Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat and vowed to intensify the movement for a separate Telangana state.

"I am now sending the resignation letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee. I challenge Congress leaders from Telangana to quit their posts and seek fresh mandate on the statehood issue", Rao said.



Rao's dramatic announcement was in response to the challenge thrown by the state Congress leaders asking him to quit his Lok Sabha seat and go to the people.

"I am accepting the challenge and quitting the post. If they have (state Congress President K Kesava Rao and senior minister M Sathyanarayana Rao) guts, let them follow suit. Let us all go to the people and seek fresh election," the TRS chief said.

Asserting that his party would continue an uncompromising battle till Telangana state was formed, Rao said, "We are even prepared to sacrifice our lives to achieve the statehood goal. This is a battle for dharma and justice, and will not stop till the goal is achieved".

TRS, which has five MPs and 26 MLAs, had quit the UPA ministry on August 22 protesting against the delay in initiating the process for formation of Telangana state.