17 Dec 2009, Hyderabad, India

The South Indian film star, Chiranjeevi resigned from the Andhra Pradesh assembly so as to protest against the moves to create the new state of Telangana. Chiranjeevi has starred in around 100 films before he started his own political party, Praja Rajyam Party. Chiranjeevi with his 15 party legislators have also handed in their resignations to state assembly.

Andhra Pradesh is rocked by the political crisis after a decision of creating Telangana was announced. Around 35 million people will stay in this new state, Telangana. It will be carved out from the Andhra Pradesh’s northern districts. Many of the members of state assembly have stepped down whereas there were violent demonstrations as well as strikes in southern and coastal areas.

Chiranjeevi’s party has supported this demand to separate Telangana state before the elections. But now they feel that the solution of problem lies in the united Andhra Pradesh and not in any such division. Chiranjeevi also said that the central government’s announcement to allow Telangana state has evoked the unexpected protests.

Another film star, Mohan Babu has also begun a protest against the Telangana state. Campaigners say that the Telangana’s economic development was neglected in favor of richer or more powerful Andhra region and a new state is a single solution.