Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh has called for a statewide bandh on Monday to protest against the arrest of their party supremo in the misappropriation of government funds case.
Earlier, TDP workers and supporters sat on a hunger strike in Vishakhapatnam. They were also seen burning tyres on the street in protest against the arrest. Rajahmundry Police also imposed section 144 in the city limits to maintain law and order in the area.
The Jana Sena Party has extended their support to the TDP bandh. JSP chief Pawan Kalyan issued a statement accusing the ruling YSRCP of resorting to “anti-social activities” and “harassing” opposition parties in the state.
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“The Janasena Party is expressing solidarity with the State Bandh called by the Telugu Desam Party on Monday… Janasena party has already condemned this arrest which is against the spirit of democracy,” read a statement by JSP.
TDP and Jana Sena have dropped enough hints that both parties may go for a pre-poll alliance. However, the BJP, which is in alliance with the Jana Sena in AP, is tight-lipped about the pact with the TDP.
Notably, Chandrababu Naidu’s arrest is the first possible dent in the otherwise clean image of the TDP. This is also the first time that the 73-year-old former chief minister has been arrested on corruption charges in his political career spanning over 40 years.
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Naidu was taken to the Central Prison in Rajamahendravaram in the wee hours of Monday after a nearly 200 km journey after the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court in Vijayawada sent him to judicial custody for 14 days.
The court granted him amenities like home-cooked food, medication and a special room during his judicial custody. Naidu has been provided with a separate accommodation inside the jail in view of the purported threat to his life. He is a Z-plus category security protectee.
His son and TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh trailed his father to the prison gates and waited outside for some time before leaving.
Chandrababu Naidu was arrested in the Skill Development Corporation scam case following a pre-dawn operation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Saturday at Nandyala, which involved officers knocking on the door of the caravan in which he was sleeping.
