Lagadapati launches fast

Vijayawada Dec 15:After his futile attempt to go onfast in the s state capital on  Monday,Congress MP Lagadapati Rajagopal,launched his fast here on Tuesday in protest against the bifurication of the state.Speaking to the media he said`` I intended to  go on fast in Hyderabad on Monday itself but  the police foiled my attempts,so I am launching my fast today.’’Reiterating the statement he made earlier he said that majority of the Telugu speaking people wanted an unified Andhra.He challenged that if a resolution is introduced in the assembly on Telangana issue 225 of the 294 MLAs will vote in favour of unified Andhra.Showering praises on late NT Rama Rao and Y S Rajasekhara Reddy,he said that they did their best in keeping the Telugu speaking people united.

He urged the Telugu Desam  chief N Chandrababu Naidu and Praja Rajyam chief Chiranjeevi to reconsider their opinions  on Telangana issue.Amidst high drama Rajgopal was shifted to Vijayawada from Hyderabad.The fast-unto-death launched by TDP MLAs D Umamaheswara  Rao and others in Vijayawada in support of an united state entered the third day.The TDP MLAs urged the Lok Sabha members from Andhra  to resign from their posts to mount pressure on the Centre.Protests and bandhs continued across Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions against the division of the state.