After a successful bandh in the Agency  and several dharnas by Uttarandhra Abhivruddhi Forum, the bauxite battle is getting intensified. On Monday, Paderu MLA  Giddi Eswari (YSRCP) threatened to resign from the Assembly to recontest on the same issue  if government were to go ahead on the mining of bauxite ignoring the rights of tribal people and ecological damage the industry might cause.

Eswari toured the proposed mine sites in the Agency area and interacted with the adivasis of the region on Monday. She dared Naidu to contest against her on the Bauxite issues from Paderu  or he could field anybody of his choice from his party,  TDP.

” If TDP is defeated in the byelection conducted on the bauxite issue, after my resignation, chief minister Naidu should step down as chief minister bowing before the verdict of the people,”  she said.

She urged the chief minister against going ahead on the sensitive issue of bauxite mining and asked him to revoke the GO No. 97 issued on Thursday facilitating mining of bauxite ore in Jerrela blocks in Chintapalli mandal.

Meanwhile,  the bandh called by all political parties in the agency area which was the first political action  in the Agency after the GO was issued, was a complete and success.

CPI(M), CPI, YSR Congress, BSP and their affiliated units called for  the bandh. Interesting  the BJP, an ally of TDP also  joined these parties.

Meanwhile on Monday members of North Andhra Abhivruddhi Forum members staged dharna opposite Andhra University opposing the mining leases of bauxite hills in Visakhapatnam district.