The state bandh call given by CPI(M),CPI, Congress and YSR Congress over the betrayal of the centre to  accord  special category status for Andhra Pradesh has received popular response and has paralysed the state despite the herculean efforts made by Chandrababu Naidu government to foil the same. The bandh evoked solid response in all the important cities and towns of the state.
 Several shops at various centres remained closed till evening as the traders too joined the bandh. Various marches were organised by the CPI(M),CPI,YSR Party activists in different parts of the state.

The knee jerk reaction of the centre in announcing special package to AP, a few days ago with a view to deflect the attention, did not go down well with the people as they started to believe the centre has been deliberately denying special category status to AP. There were series of agitations held by Left parties and other opposition parties along with some people’s organizations on this issue.

Pawan Kalyan, chief of Janasena Party, who conducted state wide campaign in the 2014 Elections in favour of Modi and Chandrababu combination, too began to raise voice against the purported attempts by the centre to deny AP special status, as well as on non-fulfillment of the provisions of AP State Re-Organisation Act. This has caused sheer embarrassment to the BJP and the TDP combination and they have become totally isolated in this issue as entire opposition, print and electronic media, barring mainstream media close to the TDP government, went hammer and tongs against the attitude of the central government and the servitude displayed by the TDP government.

Unable to digest the fact that the bandh call is getting a lot of prominence in the media, the TDP government tried to suppress the same by using police force. It resorted to preventive arrests, house  arrests  of activists  of Left parties and spread canards in its controlled media that the special package announced by the Modi government is unique and is in the best interests of the state. Nevertheless, people gave a fitting reply by making the strike a total success through their voluntary participation.

B V Raghavulu, Polit Bureau member of the CPI(M) was arrested in Eluru, P Madhu, AP state secretary, M A Gaffoor, Central Committee and state secretariat member were arrested in Vijayawada and other secretariat members, state committee members were arrested in various parts of the state. There were impressive protest padayatras, bike rallies throughout the state in which the just demands of the people were highlighted. CPI(M) AP state committee congratulated the people for their unstinted support to the bandh action.

This issue is gaining momentum and People are becoming restive over the neglect of the central government to the genuine issues of the state. This is good augury for the forthcoming struggles in the state on people’s issues.