The ‘Bandh’ observed yesterday by Andhra Pradesh bus operators resulted in non-plying of more than 12,000 buses, putting people into huge trouble.

The ‘Bandh’ was part of the many initiatives the State has been taking to pressurize the BJP-led Centre to accord ‘special status’ to the State, as promised by the BJP prior to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.  BJP and the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) were in alliance at that time but have since parted ways, with the TDP quitting the Narendra Modi-led Cabinet and BJP withdrawing its Ministers from the State Cabinet headed by TDP president and chief-minister Chandrababu Naidu.

MPs from Andhra Pradesh have been indulging in relay protest so as to ensure that the Parliament proceedings are hurt.  They are supported by Tamil Nadu’s AIADMK MPs who have also been stalling Parliament proceedings for the Centre’s reluctance to set up a Cauvery Management Board (CMB) to ensure fair distribution of Cauvery water to Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.

TDP broke away from the BJP-led NDA when it found out that the fiscal budget for 2018-19 didn’t have any special provisions for the State.  Andhra Pradesh Prathyega Hooda Saadhana Samiti had called for yesterday’s State-wide ‘bandh’ to protest against the Centre’e reluctance to heed the request of the people of the State.

More than 12,000 State-owned and private buses stayed off the roads yesterday.  Buses connecting Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh didn’t enter the respective borders yesterday.  Bus service to reach the holy Tirumala Tirupathi Hills of the abode of Lord Venkateswara, however, remained unaffected.