Bandh against power tariff hike peaceful, successful

• Nearly 8,000 participate in YSR Congress Party-sponsored People's Ballot on power tariff hike in Eluru
• TDP activists storm power sub-station at Ongole

Eluru (West Godavari): The Opposition-sponsored bandh against power tariff hike evoked good response in four coastal districts of West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, and Prakasam on Tuesday. Opposition parties, including the TDP, the YSRCP and the BJP, extended support to the bandh called by the Left parties. The YSR Congress leaders observed bandh as per the call given by party honorary president YS Vijayamma in Eluru town here on Tuesday. The party activists squatted in front of the local RTC depot and stalled bus services. A huge bike rally was taken out by nearly 500 activists supporting bandh. Shops, government offices and banks were closed. Krishna Jute Mill was shut down. The student leaders stormed the local Transco SE office at RR Peta. They held a novel protest by kneeling down. The party also held a people's ballot at District Panchayat Office in Shanivarapupeta. About eight lakh people participated in the people's ballot programme and expressed their resentment over the Congress Government, the leaders a claim. An effigy of the Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy was burnt. The police rounded up leaders participating in the bandh. The bandh was peaceful and successful across the district. In Narsapur, the bandh was partial as most of the shops remained open and the trading activity continued without much disruption.

YSRCP takes out rally Ongole (Prakasam): Under the aegis of Left parties, activists of various Opposition parties took out protest rallies and staged dharnas extending support to the State-wide bandh here in the city. The YSR Congress Party activists took out a huge rally from overbridge near Kurnool Road up to Nellore bus stand. With the Opposition leaders blocking the Ongole bus depot, passengers faced problems. Bus services were withdrawn at several places in the district. A separate rally was taken out under the auspices of the Left parties. The activists raised anti-government slogans. The TDP activists stormed the power sub-station on Kurnool Road. No untoward incident was reported from any part of the district. The bandh passed off peacefully across the district. At some places police dispersed the agitating crowds.

Traders close shops voluntarily Giddalur (Prakasam): Cloth merchants and provision shop owners downed shutters voluntarily at Giddalur in Prakasam district. TDP took out a rally in the town to enforce bandh. The police took precautionary measures to avoid untoward incidents. RTC authorities suspended all services. The bandh was monitored by TDP leader Pidatala Sai Kalpana Reddy, YSR Congress Party leader Ashok Reddy, CPI leader Anki Reddy and others.

BJP, Left join hands Ponnur (Guntur): The bandh was organised peacefully in Ponnur town in the district. The TDP and YSR Congress parties vied with each other in making the bandh a success. The BJP and the Left parties took part in the bandh. Speaking on the occasion, Ponnur MLA D Narendra Kumar warned the government of intensifying the agitation if the government failed to roll back the decision. He criticised the Congress government and its policies for the power crisis in the State.

Workers active from 4 am Gudivada (Krishna): The bandh was a success in Gudivada as activists of the Left, the TDP and the BJP were on the job since 4 am. Traders extended their support as the parties persuaded them in advance. Educational and business establishments, besides banks, were closed. The local bus station presented a deserted look. No bus service was allowed to come out of the depot. People postponed their travel plans. The CPI organised a rally in the early hours. Agitators raised slogans against the government. The political parties enforcing the bandh organised a public meeting at bus station. Addressing the gathering, TDP State leader CL Venkat Rao said that the State government had diverted natural resources to other States. He alleged that it burdened the common man with unbearable power tariff to benefit private power companies. BJP Krishna district president Ramineni Venkata Krishna called for an intensified struggle if the government failed to withdraw the power tariff burden even after the bandh. CPI leader Gudapati Sarveswara Rao said the government was bent on troubling the poor to benefit a few capitalists.