File photo of YSR Congress Chief Jagan Mohan Reddy
The indefinite hunger strike launched in Guntur by YSR Congress President Y S Jaganmohan Reddy on the promise of special status made to Andhra Pradesh entered the third day today.
The 42-year-old Leader of Opposition started his indefinite fast at Nallapadu village in Guntur district on October seven.
YSR Congress leaders, who spoke on the occasion, hit out at Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for allegedly not making sincere attempts to achieve special status.
Hundreds of Jaganmohan Reddy's supporters arrived at the hunger strike camp to greet him and express solidarity with the cause he has taken up.
MPs, MLAs, MLCs and other people's representatives of the Opposition party are camping at the fast site.
His health condition is being monitored by medical teams from the government.
The promise of special status was made to Seemandhra (new Andhra Pradesh) by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the floor of Parliament when the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act was passed last year.
The YSRCP president has vowed to continue the fast till the Centre grants special status to Andhra Pradesh.
He had asked the Chief Minister to exert pressure on the Centre to fulfil the demand and withdraw his party's support to the PM Modi Government if no positive announcement is made in this regard.
The YSR Congress chief has maintained that special status tag was necessary for Andhra Pradesh to make rapid progress in all fields.
The NDA government has asked NITI Ayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya to go into the issue of special status and other benefits promised to AP.