YSR Congress MPs resign over special category status and challenge Chandrababu Naidu and TDP to do the same

The YSR Congress upped the ante in their competitive in-Parliament protest versus the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Friday as five YSRCP MPs resigned over the issue of special category status to Andhra Pradesh. 

Shortly before both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned sine die thereby bringing the Budget session of Parliament to a close, the five MPs tendered their resignations to Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan. 

YSR supremo Jagan Mohan Reddy issued a tweet challenging Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu to make his TDP MPs resign.

 Reddy had earlier tweeted that they would be resigning.

Shortly before the YSR CP's MPs resigned, Chandrababu Naidu led a cycle rally to the Secretariat in Andhra Pradesh's capital Amaravati demanding special category status for the state from the Centre.

On Thursday, TDP MPs had refused to leave the house even after it was adjourned for the day. The Rajya Sabha staff and Marshalls requested the TDP MPs to come out of the House, however, they refused to budge. Eventually, the MPs had to be marshalled out of the House.

While protesting, two of the protesting MPs suffered a fall in their Blood Pressures (BP), but they still did not step out of the House, standing strong and true with their party's unique way of protesting. Eventually, a doctor had to be rushed inside the Rajya Sabha to check on the MPs.

The YSR Congress has reacted on TDP MPs' protest and said, "it's only drama."

The demand for special category status for Andhra Pradesh was escalated following the Union Budget in February as the TDP didn't feel that enough had been Andhra Pradesh following its bifurcation. As matters heightened, the TDP pulled out of the ruling NDA, of which it had been a long-time member. 

Speculation regarding Chandrababu Naidu potentially leading a 'third front' for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections reached fever-pitch this week as Naidu met several national leaders from various parties during a 2-day visit to New Delhi over the demand of special category status.

Both YSRCP and TDP have attempted to move no-confidence motions against the union cabinet.