Chiranjeevi resigns for a united Andhra

Hyderabad, Dec 17 (ANI): A week after the Centre's decision to initiate the process for the formation of the Telangana State, actor-turned politician and Chief of the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) Chiranjeevi has resigned in support of a "United Andhra".

PRP has a total of 18 MLAs of which the majority is from the non-Telangana regions.

Chiranjeevi who made the announcement in favour of a united Andhra Pradesh was threatened with a split within the PRP.

On Wednesday, Chiranjeevi had announced that he would observe a hunger fast for a "united Andhra" at Tirupati beginning from Thursday morning.

But his decision was withdrawn on account of the warning issued by the pro-Telangana supporters that no movies featuring Chiranjeevi and his family would be screened in Telangana region, a prominent area for film distributors.

On Wednesday, Chiranjeevi had met and consulted his party MLAs over the concerned matter.

Sixteen PRP MLAs belonging to the coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions had tendered their resignations last week in support of a united Andhra.

The students of Osmania University and Kakatiya University had also stated on Wednesday that they would boycott the movies featuring Chiranjeevi and his family, if his party talks of a united Andhra Pradesh.

Chiranjeevi had fought the Lok Sabha elections this year on a promise of separate statehood for people belonging to the Telangana region. (ANI)