Chiranjeevi resigns as minister over Telangana decision

Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi resigned on Thursday night from his post in protest against the Union Cabinet's approval of the formation of separate Telangana, his aide said.

Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi resigned on Thursday night from his post in protest against the Union Cabinet's approval of the formation of separate Telangana, his aide said.

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The actor-turned-politician has faxed his resignation to the Prime Minister's Office, his personal assistant said.

Chiranjeevi, who hails from Coastal Andhra, felt anguished over the way the protests in Seemandhra regions, going on for over two months, against the division of Andhra Pradesh were handled.

He has come under intense pressure from the united-Andhra supporters in the Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions following the Congress Working Committee's endorsement of separate Telangana demand on July 30.

The united-Andhra supporters have often demanded that Chiranjeevi quit his post to mount pressure on the Congress leadership towards halting the division of Andhra Pradesh.