Vijayawada : With all the political parties or their Seemandhra units joining the Samaikyandhra movement, the situation is turning serious in the region.

In Vijayawada, situation turned tense when police arrested TDP senior leader and MLA Devineni Umamaheswara Rao who tried to launch his indefinite fast. Police took him into custody at Gollapudi, even before he reached the fast venue. He was shifted to the one town police station.

TDP leaders said Uma would however continue his fast in the police station. Party leader Varla Ramaiah alleged that Uma was arrested as the Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy feared that he would become prominent. Police however said that he was arrested for violation of the Representation of People Act.

Uma proposed to continue his fast until Samaikyandhra announcement was made. When police tried to arrest Uma, TDP workers encircled him, preventing the police from reaching him. Police and TDP workers pushed and jostled each other.

Police also arrested Vijayawada parliamentary constituency incharge Kesineni Nani, Bonda Umamaheswara Rao and several party workers.

The situation in Vijayawada is volatile.

TDP enforcing Vijayawada shutdown

Protesting the arrest of Uma, TDP is enforcing Vijayawada Bandh. Party workers are forcing the shops in the old city to bring the shutters down. Meanwhile, local leaders are consulting the party chief Chandra Babu Naidu about shifting of Uma’s fast camp to a place where election rules are not in force.