A state-wide bandh has been called by the Andhra Pradesh Pratyeka Hoda Saadhana Samiti on Monday over the demand of special status for the state. The one-day bandh will be observed with the backing of opposition parties.
Opposition parties such as the Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), Jana Sena, Congress and the Left parties have extended their support to the shutdown.
The Left parties are protesting on National Highway 16 which connects Kolkata and Chennai. Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation buses will operate only till Andhra Pradesh state border due to the bandh.
However, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which has been agitating for the special category status and implementation of the provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act, has opposed it and have refused to take part in the protest.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said bandhs were not welcome as they hamper development. Reacting to this, the YSRCP accused the chief minister of adopting "double standards".
"When Naidu was the opposition leader, he had called for bandhs on many occasions, but as a chief minister he is now opposing them (bandhs), saying they hinder development," YSRC political affairs committee member Ambati Rambabu said.
He added that Naidu should understand that bandh was a form of a democratic protest and he had no right to oppose it.
The protests for special status for Andhra Pradesh gathered momentum in the past few months since political parties demanded 'Special Category Status' last year. It was promised to the state by the Congress government during the state bifurcation, and by the Bharatiya Janata Party before the 2014 elections.
(With inputs from PTI)