Chandrababu Naidu begins day-long fast over special status

New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu began a day-long fast here on Monday, demanding that the Centre grant special status to the state and fulfil all promises made before its bifurcation in 2014.

A number of Opposition party leaders – including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal – are expected to extend their support to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief’s fast at the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan.

Naidu has been trying to unite the opposition parties to take on the BJP in the general elections. Over the last three months, he has held a number of meetings with the opposition party leaders on forming an anti-BJP front. In March last year, the TDP had pulled out of the NDA government over its refusal to grant a special status to Andhra Pradesh.