With the political crisis in Andhra Pradesh deepening every day, the highest body of the cabinet, the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, met on Tuesday evening  to hunt for a solution.  

Sources say that several of  the Congress' allies in the UPA government  declared they are not in favour of a separate Telangana state, sanctioned by the government last week.  Those against the Telangana state include the DMK and Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress.  The Centre has however appealed to its partners to help maintain peace.

That could be tough.  Andhra is now split wide open with pro-Telangana MPs and MLAs taking on MPs from the other two regions in the state:  Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.  Non-Telangana representatives are opposed to the bifurcation of the state.

Angry MLAs in Andhra, 146 in all, have quit in protest. Among them are 80 Congress MLAs.  If their resignations are accepted by the Andhra speaker, the Congress government in the state will become a minority government.  

The revolt within the Congress is being led by L Rajagopal, the party's MOP from Vijayawada. He has begun a hunger fast today. On Monday, Rajagopal was stopped twice from the police by going on a public hunger strike. Rajagopal and other Congress MLAs who have resigned are urging more Congress MLAs to join them. (Read: Rajagopal on 'United Andhra' hunger strike)

The very public split within the Congress was visible in Parliament today when Jagan Mohan Reddy, the son of former Andhra chief minister YSR Reddy, joined Opposition MPs chanting anti-Telangana slogans. (Read: YSR Jr embarrasses Congress over Telangana)

The MPs were from Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Naidu, analysts say, is using the Congress crisis to push for mid-term elections in Andhra. (Read: Not just Cong, Telangana splits TDP too)

On Monday, Naidu accused the Congress central party leadership of  "humiliating" its chief minister, K Rosaiah by not taking him into confidence about its plans to sanction a new Telangana state.

One of the problems confronting the Congress now is whether a resolution on Telangana should be moved in the Andhra Assembly. If that happens, it is likely to be defeated, causing huge embarrassment to the Congress. (Read: Sonia Gandhi to clarify Cong stand on Telangana) 

On Monday, the Andhra Assembly was adjourned indefinitely, in a move that has allowed the Congress to buy time for a reconciliation. (Read: No rebellion at Andhra Cabinet meeting)