The YSR Congress Party President Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched an indefinite fast on Saturday at his Lotus Pond residence in Hyderabad to protest against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
A large number of well-wishers and party supporters have started pouring in to express solidarity with him.
The party has made arrangements for the visitors who are thronging the venue to have glimpse of their leader and some of them joined the hunger strike as a mark of solidarity with the fasting leader.
The indefinite fast by Jagan is part of efforts to force the UPA government to reverse its decision on dividing the state.
The Union Cabinet had on Thursday given clearance for carving out separate Telangana state with Hyderabad as the common capital for a period of ten years.
"In just a few months we will have elections.Is it right to split the state for votes and seats?" said Jagan before embarking on the fast.
"The Government has acted in haste, without taking into consideration the sentiments and concerns of the people of Seemandhra who have come on to the roads to protest. There was no discussion in the Assembly on the Telangana resolution. Just because they have power, they are doing everything they wish to," the YSRCP chief said.
"Today, the situation of the state has worsened. As part of efforts to keep up pressure, I am sending a team of my party leaders to Delhi. I will also consult the leaders of all parties and will also meet the President Pranab Mukherjee," he said.
A delegation of YSRCP leaders have sought an appointment with the President to submit a memorandum seeking his intervention to stall the bifurcation process.
