Bandh evokes good response in Rayalaseema

• Left, TDP, YSRCP and BJP leaders stage dharnas, take out rallies
• Demand rollback of hike in power tariff
• Opposition threaten to continue stir till power tariff hike is withdrawn

Normal life in the State was paralysed on Tuesday following the bandh called by the opposition parties in protest against the hike in power tariff. Buses of Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) A were suspended in most parts of the State as opposition leaders and workers stopped the vehicles. Government, private offices, schools, colleges and business A A establishments remained closed in many towns across the State. Notably, the bandh was total in Rayalmseema region, while it was partial in Nellore town. Nellore: The State-wide bandh called by the Left Parties, including the TDP, YSRCP and BJP, was total in the Rayalaseema region except Nellore district. The parties launched a tirade againstA The State-wide bandh called by the Left parties, TDP, YSRCP and BJP in protest against the increase in power tariff passed off peacefully here on Tuesday. The bandh was partial in the district as the police stopped the leaders from taking active part in the bandh. RTC buses plied as the bandh was partial across the district. However, offices in private sector, shops and educational institutions declared a holiday. Tension prevailed for a while when CPM MP Madhu was arrested in front of RTC Circle. Similarly, several leaders of Left parties were taken into custody when they tried to stop the buses from coming out of the main RTC bus stand. Gudur: The bandh in Gudur was total as government offices, business establishments remained closed. The Left, TDP, YSRCP and BJP leaders and activists took out a bike rally. Sullurpeta: The Left parties leaders and workers disrupted the plying of SHAR buses, which were to proceed towards Sriharikota. Since morning, leaders belonging to the Left parties, TDP, CPM, CPI and BJP staged protests raising slogans against the government. Sullurpeta MLA Parasa Ratnaiah lashed out at Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy for burdening the people with surcharge. Kadapa: The bandh was total in Kadapa as the leaders and workers belonging to the Left parties, YSRCP and TDP came on to the streets since morning and staged protests against the increase in power tariff. They reached at the RTC bus stand and halted the bus services. The Left, YSRCP and TDP leaders and workers took out rallies and staged dharnas across the district. Hence, the transportation came to a standstill across the district. In all, 920 buses in eight RTC bus depots remained in the bus depots. Rayachoti: The Left parties, including the TDP and YSRCP, demanded the government to rollback the hike in power tariff. The police arrested Rayachoti MLA Srikanth Reddy and the CPI, CPM and YSRCP leaders. Similarly, TDP district president and Proddatur MLA Linga Reddy threatened to continue the fight till the government withdraws the hike in power tariff. Mydukuru: YSRCP leader Raghurami Reddy alleged that the government was arresting the leaders of the opposition parties as it did not expect massive protests from the opposition parties against hike in power tariff. He belittled TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu for promising to provide nine power supply and forgetting about his statement that if free power was provided they have to dry clothes on power lines. Anantapur: The bandh against hike in power tariff was peaceful in Anantapur. The traders in the town shut their shops voluntarily in support of the bandh. Leaders and workers of the Left parties and TDP took out a massive rally in protest against the government. Guntakal: The bandh was peaceful and total in Guntakal. The leaders belonging to the Left, TDP and YSRCP warned of continuing their stir against the hike in power tariff till the government withdraws the hike. Uravakonda: The bandh sponsored by the Left and all other parties, was total in Uravakonda. YSRCP leader Y Vishveshwar Reddy along with party workers laid a siege to the electricity sub-station. He came down heavily on the government for burdening the people with hike in power tariff. Similarly, leaders belonging to the Left, TDP and BJP staged protests by squatting on the roads. Uravakonda TDP MLA Payyavula Keshavalu also took part in the bandh. Kadiri: The Left parties, TDP, YSRCP and BJP staged a dharna in front of the RTC bus stand here on Tuesday. A bike rally was taken out by the BJP led by party former MLA MS Parthasarthi. Notably, all the parties took part in the bandh individually due to lack of coordination between them. The government and private offices, schools, colleges and business establishments were closed as the leaders belonging to all the parties appealed them to cooperate with them to make the bandh a success.