Four Union Ministers M M Pallam Raju, K Chiranjeevi, D Purandeswari and Surya Prakash Reddy met the Prime Minister in New Delhi yesterday and requested him to accept their resignations over the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. They also decided not to attend office from today. Belonging to Congress, all of them are from Seemandhra region of Andhra Pradesh. Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde also had a meeting with Dr. Manmohan Singh on anti-Telangana protests. He assured all regions of the state of an amicable solution that safeguards the interests of all.

Large areas of Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra regions continued to reel under a severe power crisis with electricity employees refusing to call off their stir. They have been striking work in protest against bifurcation of the state for the past three days resulting in the severe power crisis. Thousands of villages and cities especially in the 13 districts of Seemandhra region including Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Vijayawada are without electricity supply for hours together while emergencies in key installations like airports and hospitals are being managed through alternatives.

Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy will hold talks with agitating employees tomorrow. He appealed to the power sector employees to call off their strike in view of hardship to the general public.Curfew will be relaxed this morning for two hours in violence-hit Vizianagram town.