TDP, Left parties to intensify power stir

• Mass fast on April 1, state bandh on 9th
• Left parties call off fast, more join TDP fast

The TDP is opposing any move to organise a joint agitation along with YSRCP. They say that their main allegation is that the power sector got ruined because of the measures taken by the Rajasekhar Reddy government and hence they cannot join hands with the YSRCP. On the other hand, the YSRCP has been blaming TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu as being responsible for the power situation. Hyderabad: The opposition parties, particularly the Left combine and the Telugu Desam Party, on Wednesday appeared to be preparing to go all out to intensify the power agitation, by taking the issue to the grassroots. They announced a joint programme of agitation to be taken up during early April. On the other hand Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, with a view to staving off any challenge by the opposition, held a meeting with ministers availableA and asked them toA explain to the people the realities about the power crisis and what measures theA government was taking to mitigate the problem. The leaders of CPM and CPI, who withdrew their indefinite hunger strike on Wednesday, went to Old MLA quarters and extended their solidarity with the TDP MLAs sitting on hunger strike on the power issue. There it was decided that they would jointly organise mass hunger strike on April 1 and organise state bandh on April 9. The Left parties want to rope in the YSR CongressA also into the agitation. The honorary president of the party, Y S Vijayamma, called on the Left leaders in the morning and expressed her solidarity with them. She said that the YSRCP wouldA work out its action plan. But the TDP is opposing any move to organise a joint agitation along with YSRCP. They say that their main allegation is that the power sector got ruined because of the measures taken by the Rajasekhar Reddy government and hence they cannot join hands with the YSRCP. On the other hand, the YSRCP has been blaming TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu as being responsible for the power situation. Meanwhile, the fast undertaken by the TDP MLAs has swelled to 29 on day two. They sat with lanterns during the day. Earlier, Telugu Mahila activists burned power bills and held a demonstration. Two of the TDP MLAs, T Nageswara Rao and Chandra Rao, are said to be suffering from high blood pressure. The party workers willA A hold agitations in all mandals across the state tomorrow.A The LeftA activists burnt the effigy of the Chief Minister in protest against the arrest ofA their leaders who were on dharna at Indira Park. Following the police action on Tuesday, Raghavulu and Narayana announced at Gandhi Hospital on Wednesday morning that they had decided to end the fast. Talking to media, Raghavulu said the government was now having a rethink on the issue of hike in power tariff following the agitation they had launched.