Hyderabad, June 1 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan Wednesday accepted the resignation of cabinet minister J. Krishna Rao over the delay in formation of a separate Telangana state.

The governor accepted the minister’s resignation on the advice of Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, said a communique from Raj Bhavan.

State Information Technology Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah will look after the portfolio of endowments, held by Krishna Rao.

Earlier, the chief minister called on the governor and advised him to accept the resignation of his cabinet colleague.

Krishna Rao had Tuesday submitted his resignation to the governor. He had earlier sent his resignation to Congress President Sonia Gandhi on March 3.

Krishna Rao urged all the ministers and legislators from Telangana to resign to exert pressure on the leadership to accord separate statehood to the region.