Legislators of the YSR Congress Party on Saturday began an indefinite hunger strike at Andhra Pradesh Bhawan in New Delhi to demand special category status for the state, ANI reported.

On Friday, five YSR Congress Party MPs had submitted their resignations to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, citing the Centre’s failure to provide special status. The five MPs are V Vara Prasada Rao, YV Subba Reddy, PV Midhun Reddy, YS Avinash Reddy, and Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy.

Immediately after the five MPs submitted their resignations, YSR Congress chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy challenged Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, asking him to order the Telugu Desam Party’s lawmakers in Parliament to resign. Jagan also announced Saturday’s hunger strike.

The five YSR Congress Party legislators had on Thursday accused Mahajan using various pretexts to not admit the party’s no-confidence notice against the government. The YSR Congress Party has submitted at least 12 notices, calling for discussions on a no-trust motion.