The resignations, sources said, are also meant to convey to the UPA government that the people of Telangana felt betrayed by its move to defer a call on the statehood demand despite Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s promise of an early decision.

Besides, the leaders said, they have no option but to quit as people are now directing their anger over being let down by the Congress towards them. The Telangana Joint Action Committee has called for boycott of all ministers from the region until they resign.

“We can’t continue like this. This delay is only inflaming passions and anger among Telangana people,” said MP G Vivek, who hosted fellow Congress MPs at his house to discuss the situation.

If the MLAs do resign, then the N Kiran Kumar Reddy government could be reduced to a minority.

Before they met at Vivek’s residence, Congress MPs, along with MLAs and activists, took part in protests in Hyderabad led by TJAC. The protesters clashed with the place when they were prevented from marching to the Secretariat and Raj Bhavan. At Osmania University too, students clashed with the police and pulled down the barricades meant to keep them in. At least 50 of them were arrested but released later.

TJAC has called for a shutdown Tuesday. “To start with, we are asking all Congress MPs and MLAs from the region to resign to increase pressure on the Centre. The protests and agitations will start all over again with increased intensity. There is no justification for the Centre to delay it further,” TJAC chief Prof M Kodandaram said after a meeting of political leaders, MPs and MLAs from Telangana. Congress leaders and several MPs were heckled by activists when they arrived for the meeting.

Making the matters worse for Congress ministers, MPs and MLAs, TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao has urged people to not allow them to visit their villages and towns until Telangana is made a state. “Target the Congressmen who are betraying people of Telangana. Don’t let them move around freely until they resign from their posts,” he said.