Chiranjeevi resigns as MLA of Andhra assembly

Actor-turned-politician Chiranjeevi on Thursday resigned as MLA of Andhra assembly.

"Andhra has never seen political crisis like this in history," the Praja Rajyam Party chief said adding "the onus is on Congress to explain unilateral action taken."

"I will support the Samaikya Andhra agitation in spite of threats to the film career of my son and other family members. If they want to attack me for being an artiste and a politician, so be it," he had said earlier.

On Wednesday morning, the Chiranjeevi announced that he would begin a hunger strike in support of "a United Andhra" at Tirupati on Thursday morning. That offer was quickly withdrawn when various pro-Telangana groups warned that no movies with any connection to Chiranjeevi would be screened in Telangana, a key territory for film distributors.

Chiranjeevi's passion for One Andhra is newfound. He fought the Lok Sabha elections this year on a promise of statehood for Telangana. He had also expressed his support for a Telangana state at an all-party meeting before the Centre sanctioned the new state. His switcharoo is by no means the only one that's stumped Andhra. Chandrababu Naidu has also done a complete U-turn after close to 50 of his MLAs resigned in protest against the Centre said yes last week to a new Telangana state.

On Wednesday morning, Chiranjeevi mets MLAs from his Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) ; 16 of the MLAs from non-Telangana regions have resigned in protest against a government proposal to create a new Telangana state.