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TDP’s Andhra bandh continues amid tension, arrests
The bandh call given by TDP protesting the arrest of their president evoked mixed response here on Monday.
Anantapur-Puttaparthi: The bandh call given by TDP protesting the arrest of their president evoked mixed response here on Monday.
The initial euphoria created by TDP and friendly parties Left parties and Jana Sena's presence in the early morning faded away with the presence of police on the roads around 10 am.
Emboldened by the police presence more than 60 percent of shops and establishments opened and functioned normally. The bandh evoked a mixed response. Although there is no official holiday declaration for schools, students poor turn out resulted in non-functioning of schools. By afternoon there were no traces of the bandh.
RTC buses plyed as usual under police supervision with least passengers.
Not many TDP or JSP workers were seen on the roads after 10 am. Comparatively, the traffic is less evident in the context of bandh call. A section of people were off the roads voluntarily as they do not want to be caught in the midst of uncertainities.
For the first time the fear of police gripped the TDP workers contrary to expectations that the bandh might turn violent due to jailing of their leader Nara Chandrababu Naidu.
Petrol bunks were as usual in their business and no attempts were made to close government offices.
Traders who were reluctant to open their shops finally opened them as they did not find party workers imposing the bandh.
In Sathya Sai district too, there is no impact of bandh call given by TDP and supported by the Left and JSP parties. At some places only JSP workers came out in the early hours of the morning while the TDP workers shyed away from coming into the open.
By and large bandh evoked poor response in smaller towns like Gooty, Guntakal, Tadipatri, Puttaparthi, Rayadurgam etc. Even in Hindupur bandh evoked partial response.
The senior leaders of TDP are conspicuous by their absence due to promulgation of section 144 and house arrest of leaders. A sense of defeat overshadowed the party leaders and workers due to the unexpected hailing of their party president . This is ia paradoxical situation when compared to the jubilant atmosphere pervading the TDP camp during the visit of Naidu to the district.
Tight security and Ellaborate police presence restricted political activity in the twin districts.
