TS Cong leader Vikramarka's indefinite fast foiled

Congress leader M Bhatti Vikramarka was shifted to the state-run NIMS hospital because of his failing health. The leader on Saturday launched his 36-hour fast, which, was subsequently changed to 'fast-unto-death' at the Dharna Chowk.

Hyderabad:The city police on Monday, foiled the indefinite fast of senior Congress leader Bhatti Vikramarka , in protest against the illegal merger of 12 party MLAs with the ruling TRS in Telangana, and shifted him to a hospital because of his failing health.

Congress Legislature Party leader Vikramarka on Saturday launched his 36-hour fast, which, was subsequently changed to 'fast-unto-death' at the Dharna Chowk.

According to police officials, the Congress party leader has been shifted to the state-run NIMS hospital because of his failing health, and also for holding protest beyond the permitted time.

"He had obtained, permission for holding a 36-hour dharna, and it was granted. But, he continued to hold the protest even after the permitted time. After, getting him checked by a medical team, he has been shifted," DCP (Central Zone) P Viswa Prasad told media sources.

In a dramatic turn of events, Telangana Assembly Speaker P Srinivas Reddy on Thursday had recognized 12 MLAs of Congress as members of TRS, hours after they moved him seeking a merger of their group with the ruling party.

The Speaker acceded to the request of the MLAs considering the fact that they constituted two-thirds of the Congress Legislature Party, a requirement for the merger under the anti-defection law.

The Congress had won 19 seats in the assembly polls in December last year, but in the past few months, 11 of the MLAs had switched loyalties to the TRS though officially they did not resign.

The Congress party's strength has come down to six, one less than that of AIMIM, it may lose the status of the main opposition party in the 119-member House.