In a major setback to the Telugu Desam in Telangana, the senior leader and Banswada MLA, Mr Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, has decided to quit the party and join the TRS.

Investigations into the killing of Maddelacheruvu Suryanarayana Reddy alias Suri, key suspect in the murder of TDP MLA Paritala Ravi, has been transferred to the Central Crime Station (CCS), a wing of city police that probes high-profile crime cases.

"The probe into Suri's murder will be conducted by the CCS," a senior police official said on Tuesday on the condition of anonymity.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy is likely to ask the Congress brass to take a decision regarding the bifurcation of the state without delay to end the stalemate once and for all.

MP and Congress Working Committee member K. Kesava Rao on Sunday said that he and other MPs and MLAs would quit their memberships if the Centre did not grant statehood to Telangana immediately.

The Congress high command is planning a strategy to counter the moves by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, and the former MP, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, to topple the state government and force a snap poll.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao said on Wednesday said mid-term polls seemed imminent with the Congress government of the state on the verge of collapse.

Bowing to pressure both from fasting Congress MPs and party leaders, Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy agreed in principle to withdraw all cases filed against protesters who indulged in violence during the pro- and anti-statehood agitations earlier this year.

Ahead of the Srikrishna Commission report on Telangana, Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday announced it would withdraw all cases against pro-Telangana students, after which Congress MPs from the region withdrew their fast called to press for the withdrawal.

Home minister P Sabita Indra Reddy told reporters here that the government has decided to withdraw all cases against the students and other protesters in accordance with the request made by all political parties in the state assembly during its winter session.

Chief minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday decided to withdraw 135 “non-serious” cases against the students involved in Telangana agitation, but the Congress MPs from the region refused to give up their fast until all the cases were withdrawn.

In an attempt to put pressure on the state and central leadership of the party, Congress Lok Sabha Members from Telangana have decided to sit on an indefinite fast from Monday at Gun Park, opposite th