Amaravati, Sep 11: In Andhra Pradesh, its leader and former Chief Minister N. A day-long bandh was observed under the leadership of the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Monday in protest against the arrest of Chandrababu Naidu. TDP leaders and supporters took to the streets across the state expressing strong disapproval over Naidu’s arrest. To stop the protests, the police placed several top TDP leaders under house arrest for the third consecutive day. Following the Vijayawada court’s decision to send Naidu to judicial custody for 14 days, authorities also imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), banning rallies and public gatherings across the state.
Despite these restrictions, TDP workers violated the ban while protesting. In Kuppam town in Chittoor district, protesters blocked roads, leading to his arrest. At the RTC (Road Transport Corporation) complex in Srikakulam, tension broke out as TDP supporters attempted to stop RTC buses, resulting in police custody. Similar protests took place at the RTC depot at Atmakur in Nellore district and the RTC bus stand in Vizianagaram district. Police detained TDP leaders, including women, who were sitting on the road protesting against the YSR Congress government in Tirupati.
Apart from this, the police arrested Ichchapuram MLA B. Ashok was placed under house arrest, while Nellore Rural MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy remained under house arrest for the third consecutive day.
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TDP State President K. Atchannaidu declared a bandh in response to Naidu’s judicial custody, calling the arrest “illegal” and condemning the alleged attacks on TDP members. He accused Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy’s government of indulging in vendetta politics and called on citizens, organizations, and democracy supporters to join the bandh.
Naidu was nabbed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Nandyal on Saturday and later shifted to Rajahmundry Central Jail. Actor-politician Pawan Kalyan-led Jana Sena Party (JSP) and Left parties pledged their support to the bandh.
