In the name of a fast. Or that's what he says.

Even as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh called an emergency meeting about a missing MP, L Rajagaopal surfaced with flair, arriving in an auto rickshaw at the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in Hyderabad.

An odd destination, you might think, but for Rajagopal, this is his re-entry into Hyderabad, a city the government was desperate to make off-limits to him. After reaching NIMS, Rajagopal sprinted into a hospital bed with remarkable agility for a man who has not eaten for nearly a week.

On Saturday, Rajagopal, who is the Congress MP from Vijayawada, was arrested and hospitalised because he was on an indefinite hunger strike. The MP says he won't end his fast till the government reverses its decision to bifurcate Andhra and create a new Telangana state.

After being taken to a government hospital in Vijayawada, Rajagopal asked that he be moved to NIMS in Hyderabad. Worried that this would lead to violent protests, the government refused. So Rajagopal left his hospital room anyway. The 300 policemen standing guard outside claim they were distracted by his supporters. Rajagopal, holding a flag, was less than conspicuous. Yet, he managed to get into a car and drive away.

The Vijayawada police commissioner and five other policemen were suspended on Monday morning. "This is inefficiency, irresponsibility and negligence on the part of the police. The Home Minister also suspects there must have been police connivance," said K Rosaiah, the chief minister.  

Either that or the police has trouble recognizing one of the most-visible faces of the new United Andhra movement. Despite a high-alert in several districts, Rajagopal pulled up at NIMS with no problem.

The state government warns cases may be registered against Rajagopal for disappearing while in police custody, but it's an empty threat.

In Delhi, the Prime Minister met MPs from the non-Telangana regions, who, like Rajagopal, are opposing a new map for their state. He promised them that the Congress Core Committee will discuss the issue at a meeting.