Talking to reporters here, Seelam said that the status of Hyderabad holds the key to end the crisis going on in the State over bifurcation issue. If the Centre considers making Hyderabad a Union Territory then all fears and apprehensions of Seemandhra people could be allayed. Stating that the process of formation of Telangana has already begun, he said it would not deter the Seemandhra leaders from making efforts to keep the State united. He said no stone would be left unturned to stop the division of State till the last minute.

Seelam said that it was not clear when the Telangana Resolution would be sent to the State Legislative Assembly. However, he said that there would more clarity on State’s bifurcation issue in the next one month. In case of division of the State, it would be ensured that injustice is not done to the people of Seemandhra region, he said.

The union minister also condemned the opposition parties for targeting the Congress party alone for the decision on bifurcation of State. He said the Centre took the decision only after all major political parties gave their consent in writing in favour of Telangana. Therefore, he said it was wrong to blame the ruling party alone for the present situation. INN

The Vijayawada MP was mobbed by activists when he reached Auto Nagar to express solidarity with the activists who undertook hunger strike in protest against State’s proposed bifurcation. Angry protestors pelted stones and chairs on his convoy while raising slogans of “Lagapati Go Back.” Accusing him of being a Samaikyandhra betrayer, the agitators asked him to return only after resigning from his post.

The situation turned tense when Lagadapati’s supporters entered into an argument with the Samaikhyandhra activists. When the protestors continued their attack on his vehicle, police intervened and shifted the Congress MP from the venue. INN

Naidu made these remarks while addressing a gathering at Reddygudem in Krishna district on the fourth day of his bus yatra. He got angry when one villager tried to disrupt his speech and said that such disruptions were aimed at drawing media attention. He said instead of conveying his real message to the people, a section of media makes negative headlines with the deliberate disruptions caused by some individuals.

The villager, believed to be a fan of Jr NTR, was unhappy with Naidu as he reportedly did not offer pooja to late NTR. INN

Talking to reporters here, Naidu said that the Telangana issue was blown out of proportion by the Congress party and by having a tie-up with the Telangana Rashtra Samithi in 2004 elections, the Congress strengthened the sentiments of separatism to gain political mileage in future. He said that the Congress Working Committee took a decision in favour of Telangana only to gain political mileage.

The TDP leader also accused the YSR Congress party of enacting political dramas in Seemandhra region by supporting Samaikhyandhra. He said both Vijayamma and Sharmila supported separate Telangana during their meetings in Telangana region. However, now they are advocating Samaikhyandhra for political gains. He predicted that the YSRCP and TRS would eventually merge with the Congress party which has been making efforts to emerge as the ultimately beneficiary of Telangana issue. INN

Lagadapati was mobbed by some protestors when he visited the Panchayat Raj Guest House at Bandar Road to participate in a deeksha by RTC workers. Raising slogans of “Lagadapati Go Back”, the protestors demanded that he resign from the membership of Lok Sabha. Lagadapati tried in vain to convince the activists that he was a staunch integrationist. However, it was only after police intervention the activists were disbursed.

It may be mentioned that State minister S Sailajanath faced a similar situation on Tuesday.

Addressing a different function of students later, Lagadapati called upon the people of Seemandhra region to intensify agitation to force the Centre to reverse its decision on Telangana. Stating that Hyderabad belongs to people of all three regions, he said it was wrong to allot Hyderabad to one particular region.

Rajagopal said that the decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh was taken without realising its implications. He said that the decision was so vague that there was no clarity even on what should be the capital of Seemandhra. He said that only through massive agitation, the decision could be reversed. INN

However, the by-polls lacked regular enthusiasm with major political parties, except TDP, fielding their candidates. Further, the on-going Samaikhyandhra agitation too had an impact on the by-polls which got necessitated due to the death of sitting TDP member Ambati Brahmanaiah. All major parties did not field their candidates from the seat after TDP named Brahmanaiah’s son Sri Hari Prasad as its candidate.

However, voting became inevitable after two independents entered the fray. The polling, which began at 8 am will continue till 5 pm. The counting of votes will take places on August 24. INN

Devineni was taken into custody from his residence in Gollapudi area while he was about to leave for hunger fast venue at MG Road. TDP State Secretary Bonda Umameheshwara Rao was also taken into custody by the police.

According to police, they did not permit the hunger fast due to the imposition of election code in Krishna district for the Assembly by-polls scheduled to be held on August 21. INN

Talking to reporters here, Ganta said that the Antony Committee should visit Vijayawada, Anantapur and Visakhapatnam to interact with the people and understand the pulse of on-going Samaikhyandhra agitation. Describing the protests as people’s movement, he said that the agitation was being carried on without any political affiliations.

Ganta also informed that the Seemandhra ministers and legislators would consult Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and PCC President Botsa Satyanarayana before making a representation to the Antony Committee. He also accused TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao of repeatedly hurting the sentiments of Seemandhra people through his provocative statements. INN