Kiran Reddy calls on Pranab over Andhra bifurcation

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and others called on President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Nilayam here on Sunday. The visit of Kiran Kumar, a vocal opponent of division of the state, is said to be a courtesy call. Besides the chief minister, both sides of the regional divide over the bifurcation also called on the President. TDP MLAs from Seemandhra and Rayalaseema, who met Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Nilayam in Bolarum here, urged him to stop the process of bifurcation, alleging that the decision to divide the state was taken with political considerations, said party MLA D Narendra. TRS leaders, including MP G Vivek, who are rooting for formation of Telangana, also met the President, official sources said. Mukherjee arrived here on 19 December for his customary winter sojourn and will stay at Rashtrapati Nilayam till 31 December. He visited Tamil Nadu and Kerala last week on several engagements, including unveiling of a statue of former Kerala chief minister K Karunakaran. Mukherjee would visit Ananatapur district tomorrow. Rashtrapati Nilayam is one of the two official retreats of the President, the other being ‘The Retreat Building’ in Shimla.