Condition of fasting MLAs causes concern

• TDP fast enters fourth day
• Nagam, Lokesh, Raghavulu among visitors

Hyderabad: The indefinite hunger strike of the Telugu Desam legislators entered the fourth day on Friday, causing concern over the deteriorating health of those on fast. They were examined by a team of doctors. The sugar levels of two women MLAs -- Satyavathi Rathod and Seethakka -- were found to be low. While Seethaka was down with fever, Satyavati was suffering from serious dehydration. The condition of nine other MLAs was also reported to be equally precarious.

The police were expected to swing into action any time to shift the MLAs to hospital. A host of opposition leaders, including their former colleague Nagam Janardhan Reddy, the CPI(M) State Secretary BV Raghavulu, CPI leader K Ramakrishna, RSP leader Janakiram, film producer Ashok Kumar and former minister Ramasubba Reddy visited the ailing leaders and extended their support. Voicing concern over the condition of the leaders on protest, the opposition leaders blamed the government for being unmindful of the public outcry against its failure to address the power crisis that gripped the state. The party cadres also assembled in a big way at the protest venue in anticipation of police action to foil the protest. Senior leaders made it clear that they would continue the protest under any circumstances. If needed the MLAs whose condition was deteriorating would be allowed to be shifted to hospital. Party deputy floor leader Ashok Gajapati Raju said that there was no need for the permission of party chief N Chandrabababu Naidu for shifting the women MLAs to hospital if the situation warranted so. Nara Lokesh, son of N Chandrababu Naidu, visited the protest camp and interacted with the MLAs on fast. Senior leaders of the party, Mothkupalli Narsimhulu and Ravula Chandra Sekhar Reddy assured him that the fast would continue until the government responded positively to the demand to spare the power consumers from additional burden of hike in tariff and fuel surcharge adjustment. Raghavulu made a blistering attack against the government for its scant regard for the public issues as well as the health of elected representatives on fast. Chandrababu Naidu, who is on Meekosam Yatra, also enquired about the health of the MLAs.