The Congress Party has plunged into a deep crisis over the issue of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to carve out a separate Telangana state. At least five Union Ministers have resigned so far, while many Congress MPs and other leaders and cadres have quit the party.

Union Tourism Minister Chiranjeevi and Minister of State for Railways Kotla Surya Prakash Reddy, HRD minister Pallam Raju and Ministers of State D Purandeshwari and K Kruparani were the ones to resign. Apart from that, Congress MPs Arun Kumar, Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, Anant Venkatrama Reddy and A Sai Prathap have already resigned.

YSR Congress Chief Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched an indefinite fast in Hyderabad from today, protesting against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. His party has also called for a 72-hour bandh, which began yesterday. The bandh took violent turn with protesters clashing with the police and damaging the properties elsewhere in Andhra Pradesh.

Congress feels that it would have a better chance to win good number of seats in Telangana region. However, if it does not go for a bifurcation, it will suffer a complete rout in United Andhra Pradesh. The political compulsions of the Congress Party has left Andhra Pradesh on an edge.