70 MLAs, 12 MPs ready to quit Congress: Lagadapati

Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal on Saturday predicted that at least 70 MLAs and 12 MPs would quit the Congress party if the process of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh was not stopped immediately.

Speaking to reporters here, Lagadapati supplemented the statement of PCC President Botsa Satyanarayana who apprehended that about 30 Congress MLAs might quit the party. Lagadapati said that no 30, but at least 70 MLAs would quit the party over statehood issue. He also said that the Congress would not get even one seat in either Telangana or Andhra regions if the State was divided. Stating 

Stating that the division issue has now reached its climax, Lagadapati contended that the bifurcation could not take place without an Assembly resolution. He also supported the stand taken by JC Diwakar Reddy on bifurcation issue and said the former minister was misunderstood by the Congress High Command.