Guntur: Political parties in Andhra Pradesh called for a shutdown on Friday in various parts of the state, as the state assembly once again was set to discuss the controversial Telangana Bill, after the central government’s approval.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) called for a Seemandhra shutdown.

TDP leader M Subbarao supporting the strike said, “We are against the state bifurcation so all the party members of regional Telugu Desam Party (TDP) along with people are voluntarily joining the bandh (strike). Bandh is great success. We want the United Andhra Pradesh state.”

Vehicles remained off the road, while schools, banks and business establishments remained shut.

On December 5 2013, India’s cabinet cleared the parliamentary bill for bifurcating of Andhra Pradesh to create a separate Telangana state, with 10 districts.

In July, the Congress Party approved the creation of a new Telangana state, which had raised fears of violence in the area, home to global firms including Google.

The decision to break up Andhra Pradesh and establish a new state of Telangana comes ahead of elections next year and critics say the Congress is seeking to shore up its political fortunes after dragging its feet over the explosive issue for four decades.

The proposal was received with mixed emotions across the state, with various politicians starkly opposing the bifurcation.

Supporters, however, say Telangana’s economic development has been neglected in favour of the richer and more powerful Andhra region, and that a new state is the only solution.

Hyderabad was a bone of contention because it fell in the proposed new state carved out of the western part of Andhra Pradesh.