File photo of Jagan Mohan Reddy
The YSR Congress Party led by Jagan Mohan Reddy has called for a 72-hour bandh in Andhra Pradesh against the cabinet's decision to create a separate Telangana state.
Mr Reddy, who spent 16 months in jail in connection with a corruption case, has said he was not pained by jail as much as by the cabinet's decision on Thursday. He was released from jail last month following conditional bail granted by the special CBI court.
"The decision of the cabinet has ridiculed the process of passing a resolution in the Assembly. Even when Andhra Pradesh was formed in 1956, a resolution was passed in both Houses of the Assembly. When Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand were created resolution was passed in the Assembly. This unilateral style of functioning of government for votes has put the entire state in disarray," Mr Reddy said.
Two cabinet ministers from Andhra Pradesh, Pallam Raju and KS Rao, registered their strong dissent at the cabinet meeting on Thursday. Ahead of the cabinet meeting, activists opposed to the bifurcation of the state protested near the Prime Minister's home.
The cabinet approved a note prepared by the Home Ministry that outlines the plan for how Andhra Pradesh will be bifurcated. Hyderabad will be shared for 10 years as the capital of the old and new state. (
Cabinet nod to Telangana triggers resignation threats, protests, bandhs in Andhra Pradesh)
The cabinet also approved the setting up of a Group of Ministers who will be assigned to figure out how to divide water, power and revenue between the two states.
Mr Reddy, the son of late Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, has been opposing the state's division; the bifurcation would lead to many problems including the severe problem of river water sharing, he says.
Mr Reddy's party plans to organise a public meeting in Hyderabad on October 19 to push for a united Andhra Pradesh.