The bandh call given by the YSR Congress to protest against government’s failure on the power front was received with lukewarm response. While small schools had closed down, major corporate schools and colleges functioned as usual. Efforts of the party activists to stall bus services failed and most of the buses functioned as usual.

Late Congress leader P Janardana Reddy’s daughter Vijaya Reddy led a group of supporters and went round the streets trying to enforce a shut down. She raised slogans hailing the YSRCP honorary president Vijayamma and party chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy. She was arrested and shifted to the Jubilee Hills police station. In Hyderabad, party’s official spokesperson Gattu Ramachandra Rao and several other leaders were arrested when they tried to obstruct bus services at the MGBS. Speaking to the media on the occasion, Gattu said Congress also would go down the same way as TDP.

In Visakhapatnam also, several YSRCP activists were arrested. Protesting against the arrests, party workers staged a protest at the fifth town police station.In Medchal, party leader Singi Reddy Hari Vardhan Reddy and in L B Nagar another leader Putta Reddy were arrested. Party MLAs have tried to enforce closure of shops and establishments in their respective areas. In Anantapur, party MLA Gurunatha Reddy and MLC Thippa Reddy were arrested.

In SrikKulam, YSRCP MLA Dharmana Krishna Das has entered into argument with the police, charging them of illegally arresting his party activists. He has also complained to the police about the arrests.In Nizamabad, party’s spokesperson Bajireddy Govardhan and others staged a dharna at the bus depot. They were arrested. Bajireddy continued his protest in the police station.

In East Godavari district, YSRCP leader Jyothula Nehru was arrested. In Krishna district, former Congress MLA Vangaveeti Radha Krishna was kept under house arrest. In Nellore district, Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy was also kept under house arrest.

Party’s official spokesperson Vasireddy Padma has charged the government of getting her party activists illegally arrested, though they were organizing peaceful rallies. She has demanded immediate release of all those arrested. She has also charged that there was collusion between the Congress and the TDP.In Prakasham YSRCP leaders said police were over-acting. However, Sakshi media has claimed that the bandh was a big success.

TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu has assured his colleagues that he would give clarity on the Telangana issue by the second week of September.

Addressing a meeting of the Telugu Desam Legislature Party, he said both the YSR Congress and the TRS had no organizational grip over the Telangana region. Stating that the TDP had good command over the region, Naidu has expressed the view that if his party used the base it has and strove harder, the party could pick up well in the ‘T’ region. Stating that he would not bother about the remarks of leaders of other parties on the Telangana issue, Naidu said he would give clarity on the matter. He said he would begin the process from Saturday by holding meetings with leaders of all the regions. Naidu has advised the coordination committee appointed for the purpose to act independently and not depend upon him for guidance.

It may be mentioned here that Naidu had dispensed with his vacillation on key issues and started taking clear stands. This was evident from the support he had expressed for the categorization of the SCs recently. Now Telangana remains to be the only key issue on which he has to take a clear stand. Meanwhile, TDP general secretary and senior leader Byreddy Rajasekhara Reddy has stirred up the Rayalaseema issue and demanded that if the state were to be divided, a Rayalaseema state also should be formed along with Telangana. Opponents of Naidu had charged him of being behind Byreddy to delay decision on the Telangana state.