Speaker accepts Rao's resignation; TRS quits UPA

New Delhi, Sep 23: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today accepted the resignation of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief and former Union Labour Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao from the Karimnagar Lok Sabha constituency.

The four MPs of the party also withdrew support to the ruling Congress-led United Progressive Alliance governent to protest against the delay in implementing the TRS demand for creation of a new state of Telangana.

Mr Rao had sent in his resignation from the Lok Sabha on September 12.

The resignation was kept pending since the Speaker wanted to personally ascertain that Mr Rao voluntarily wanted to quit the seat.

Mr Rao had earlier resigned from the Union Cabinet on August 22.

The TRS chief also sent a letter to President A P J Abdul Kalam announcing the withdrawal of his party's support to the UPA government.

Twenty six MLAs of the TRS who were part of the Congress-led coalition in Andhra Pradesh have already withdrawn their support to the coalition government and are sitting in the opposition benches.

UNI