5 TDP MPs quit as protests spread

Violence escalated in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema districts Friday against the Telangana statehood decision. Protesters attacked government and private vehicles and set them on fire while statues of Indira Ga-ndhi and Rajiv Gandhi were demolished at many places.

The protests spread to newer areas like Vizianagaram and Srikakulam. A shutdown continued and protesters took to the streets,demanding that the state be reunited. Rallies,demonstrations and human chains were held. The state transport department withdrew services as its buses came under attack in both Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.

Acceding to the demands of their supporters,at least five Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MPs resigned. Rajya Sabha members Y Satyanarayana Choudhary and C M Ramesh,and Lok Sabha members N Kistappa (Hindupur),K Narayana (Machalipatnam) and M Venugopal Reddy (Narasa-raopet) resigned on Friday.