The Telugu Desam Party's two ministers in the central government met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening and handed him their resignation.
Shortly before that PM Modi spoke to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who, during the 10-minute conversation, formally conveyed the TDP's decision to pull out its two ministers over its demand for "special status" for the state.
Sources said the conversation was cordial and did not reflect current tensions.
"Prime Minister Modi received us cordially and said that whatever delay has happened, but we will work towards it. The Prime Minister said clearly that 'I am with Andhra Pradesh and I will serve people of the state'," Chowdary told reporters.
Replying a question about what was the way forward, Chowdary said, "We have to ensure whatever commitments and assurances given in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act as well as the promises made by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on the floor of the Rajya Sabha are fulfilled."
He said that since they have resigned from the council of ministers so they will have more freedom in the parliament to pursue the issues. While answering another question, Chowdary said it was not fair to expect Prime Minister Modi to deal with these issues.
"I don't think it's fair on our part to expect the Prime Minister to deal with these issues. It's for the concerned ministries to take up. A considerable amount of time has already lapsed.
The sentiments of the Andhra has to be addressed by Chandrababu Naidu, and in these circumstances, unless we support our people, we hear them out and work for it, it does not make sense.
So, our leader has made a made the right decision to come out of the government. As per the direction of our party president, we resigned today," Chowdary said.
Raju said that despite their resignations, the TDP is continuing as a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
"The issue of Special Category Status should have been addressed by the Centre a long time ago," Gajapathi Raju said. He said that the Centre was viewing the Andhra people as 'residue material'.
"From Andhra Pradesh, we have now become residue state of Andhra Pradesh. The residue is the problem and there are certain commitments that were given by the national parties at that particular time and everyone in Andhra Pradesh wants that to be implemented," Raju said.
Both the TDP leaders thanked Prime Minister Modi for the "cooperation extended by him" during their tenure.
Mr Naidu had said on Wednesday night that he had called PM Modi but could not reach him. "My OSD spoke to his OSD but the prime minister did not come on line," he said.
