Vijayawada BJP to fight for Bhadradri

Vijayawada: The city committee of the Bharatiya Janata Party has resolved to launch a stir demanding the merger of Bhadrachalam in the residuary Andhra Pradesh after bifurcation.

Addressing the media here on Monday, BJP’s city president D. Uma Maheswara Raju said that the party would exert pressure on the Centre till it decides to merge Bhadrachalam with residuary AP after bifurcation.

“The boundaries of the residual state should be on the lines of those that existed before the merger of Telangana region, following its separation from Madras province,” Raju said.

He said that the Central government should ensure essential infrastructure and amenities are in place before dividing the state.

“The Polavaram project must be declared a national project and people living in the areas that face a threat of being submerged due to the project must be provided alternative residences, with all facilities. As many as 237 villages, which are now in Bhadrachalam, face a very high risk of being submerged in the future. These villages should be merged into the residuary AP,” Raju said.

He said that the government should give the rights to power plants built on either side of canals at Nandikotkuru in Kurnool district to the residuary AP.

Raju said that as part of the stir, his party leaders and activists would stage protests demanding Bhadrachalam  in the city on Tuesday. Executive committee member P. Malakondiah and other party leaders were present.