Rajagopal's resignation sent to Ethics Committee

Speaker Meira Kumar has referred Congress member L Rajagopal's resignation from the Lok Sabha opposing a separate Telangana state to the Ethics Committee.

Rajagopal had met the Speaker on December 10, a day after the Centre's announcement to carve out a separate Telangana state out of Andhra Pradesh and handed over his resignation to her, unhappy over the development. Parliament sources said since the member had personally handed over the letter to the Speaker, it was examined and referred to the Ethics Committee.

Acting tough, Congress high command on Monday issued show cause notices to two Andhra Pradesh MPs -- L Rajagopal and Madhu Goud Yashki -- who are at the forefront of anti and pro Telangana campaigns respectively. The action came a day after it cracked the whip against rebel Andhra Pradesh Minister from Telangana K Venkata Reddy, who raised a storm by attacking Chief Minister K Rosaiah, for "deliberately lowering the party's prestige".

Rajagopal and Yashki have been asked to reply within 15 days. They have been charged with deliberately acting against party's interests despite advice and embarrassing the organisation. The notice to the two MPs was issued by AICC general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi, who is in-charge of organisational affairs, this evening. The action approved by party President Sonia Gandhi came on the basis of a report from M Veerappa Moily, in-charge of party affairs in Andhra Pradesh.

The two MPs have been accused by the leadership of embarrassing the party with their actions and deliberately acting against its interests.