The Seemandhra region of Andhra Pradesh is observing a bandh today in protest against the Union Cabinet’s approval for the Andhra Pradesh Bifurcation 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 the state's division. All scheduled examinations in Universities for today and tomorrow, have been postponed.

The bandh call has been given by theTelugu Desam party, YSR Congress and Andhra Pradesh NGOs in protest against the approval of the Bifurcation Bill. While the YSR Congress and AP NGOs called for a bandh today, the Seemandhra TDP leaders have called for a 48-hour bandh from this morning.

Meanwhile, police forces are keeping a vigil at the residence 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. Our correspondent reports that the Seemandhra region is rocked by agitations in protest against the Union Cabinet’s consent for the bifurcation bill. Tension prevailed at Tanuku in east Godavari district with YSR congress workers attacking a Congress MLA and pelting stones on his vehicle.

The agitators set on fire BSNL equipment at Uravakonda in Ananthapur district. Vechicles were stranded on highways with agitators resorting to rastarokos at several places. In Tirupati, all buses were withdrawn expect those plying to Tirumala, the temple town. Police arrested agitators at several places including TDP leader Devineni Umamaheswara Rao and his followers in Vijayawada.