The bandh call given by the YSR Congress to protest against government’s failure on the power front was received with lukewarm response. While small schools had closed down, major corporate schools and colleges functioned as usual. Efforts of the party activists to stall bus services failed and most of the buses functioned as usual.
Late Congress leader P Janardana Reddy’s daughter Vijaya Reddy led a group of supporters and went round the streets trying to enforce a shut down. She raised slogans hailing the YSRCP honorary president Vijayamma and party chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy. She was arrested and shifted to the Jubilee Hills police station. In Hyderabad, party’s official spokesperson Gattu Ramachandra Rao and several other leaders were arrested when they tried to obstruct bus services at the MGBS. Speaking to the media on the occasion, Gattu said Congress also would go down the same way as TDP.
In Visakhapatnam also, several YSRCP activists were arrested. Protesting against the arrests, party workers staged a protest at the fifth town police station.In Medchal, party leader Singi Reddy Hari Vardhan Reddy and in L B Nagar another leader Putta Reddy were arrested. Party MLAs have tried to enforce closure of shops and establishments in their respective areas. In Anantapur, party MLA Gurunatha Reddy and MLC Thippa Reddy were arrested.
In SrikKulam, YSRCP MLA Dharmana Krishna Das has entered into argument with the police, charging them of illegally arresting his party activists. He has also complained to the police about the arrests.In Nizamabad, party’s spokesperson Bajireddy Govardhan and others staged a dharna at the bus depot. They were arrested. Bajireddy continued his protest in the police station.
In East Godavari district, YSRCP leader Jyothula Nehru was arrested. In Krishna district, former Congress MLA Vangaveeti Radha Krishna was kept under house arrest. In Nellore district, Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy was also kept under house arrest.
Party’s official spokesperson Vasireddy Padma has charged the government of getting her party activists illegally arrested, though they were organizing peaceful rallies. She has demanded immediate release of all those arrested. She has also charged that there was collusion between the Congress and the TDP.In Prakasham YSRCP leaders said police were over-acting. However, Sakshi media has claimed that the bandh was a big success.