In Andhra Pradesh, a bandh is underway in Seemandhra region in protest against the Union Cabinet’s approval of the Telangana draft Bill. Rallies, rasta-rokos and dharnas are being held across 13 districts of coastal and Rayalaseema districts as part of the bandh.

Educational institutions and business establishments remained closed and public transport buses have been confined to depots. TDP and YSR congress leaders and activists, employees and students are taking part in protest demonstrations and expressing their resentment against state division. All scheduled examinations in Universities for today and tomorrow have been postponed.

The bandh call is given by the Telugu Desam party, YSR Congress and Andhra Pradesh NGOs in protest against Union Cabinet’s approval to the Bill bifurcating the state. While the YSR Congress and AP NGOs called for bandh today, the Seemandhra TDP leaders have called for a 48-hour bandh from this morning.

Meanwhile, additional forces have been rushed to Seemandra region to ensure law and order. Police forces are keeping a strict vigil at the residences of central and state ministers and other public representatives in coastal and Rayalaseema districts. Section 30 of the Police Act has been imposed in Vijayanagaram town and additional forces have been deployed at the residence of Pradesh Congress Committee President, Botsa Satyanarayana.