Chandrababu Naidu asked to leave Andhra Bhavan premises

Chandrababu Naidu’s indefinite fast entered its second day on Tuesday under dramatic circumstances, as the state government asked the TDP leader to vacate its premises in Delhi which has become his protest venue.

Naidu responded by challenging the state government to evict him from the venue and blamed Congress chief Sonia Gandhi for dividing Andhra Pradesh to get “some more seats” to make her son the Prime Minister.

The TDP chief, who went ahead with the fast despite being a diabetic, said he "does not mind losing his life" in the fight for justice for Telugu people on the issue of Telangana. He also demanded an all-party meeting on the issue as well as talks with Joint Action Committees of Telangana and Seemandhra to sort out the issues amicably.

Though Naidu remained ambivalent over the creation of Telangana, party members apparently made the stand clear with sporadic slogans for "united Andhra".

He said the government should desist from making false promises and state its plan of action clearly.

Alleging "match fixing" between the ruling Congress and Jaganmohan Reddy, Naidu said the YSR Congress leader had fasted in jail against rules, but the authorities issued morning and evening bulletins instead of stopping him.

"What does it indicate? Clear match-fixing, one side TRS, one side YSR Congress. Sonia Gandhi wanted to get some seats to make her son the Prime Minister. Is it reasonable, is it justified I am asking," Naidu said.

Naidu questioned Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh’s right to accuse the opposition of backing out after offering consent to Telangana, while MLAs and ministers of his own party are quitting their posts protesting AP’s division.

“I am asking Digvijay Singh, if you can't convince your own people, what is the right you are having to accuse us," he said responding to Singh’s statement that TDP backed out after handing a written consent on the formation of the new state. Meanwhile, L Rajagopal, the Congress MP from Seemandhra region, approached Delhi High Court seeking directions for Lok Sabha Speaker to take a final decision on his resignation.

In his petition, Rajagopal said he had submitted his resignation following all procedures but the Speaker did not take any action.

YSR Congress honorary president Vijayamma and some MLAs also met CPM  leaders on the Telangana issue.