Two Andhra Pradesh cabinet ministers have resigned, owning moral responsibility for the defeat of the ruling Congress party in by-elections to local bodies.

Minister for Marketing M Mareppa and Minister for Minor Irrigation M Venkateswara Rao sent their resignations to Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy on Friday night. The chief minister accepted the resignations and forwarded them to state Governor ND Tiwari for his approval.