India's southern state hit by massive power outage

Massive power outage hit hard Andhra Pradesh, following a strike by hundreds of power workers in protest against the Indian government's recent decision to form a new state of Telangana which is to be carved out of the southern state. Apart from power outage, normal life is also crippled in the state as there have been street protests against the decision to form Telangana which will also share Andhra Pradesh's capital Hyderabad for the next 10 years. Two regional leaders have starved fast unto death in protest against the decision -- Telegu Desam Party chief Chandrababu Naidu on indefinite hunger strike in the Indian capital while the head of YSR Congress party, Jaganmohan Reddy, is doing the same in Hyderabad. Last week, at least three senior Indian Ministers, all hailing from Andhra Pradesh, resigned as they were deeply offended by the Indian Cabinet's decision Thursday to bifurcate the state. Tourism Minister Chiranjeevi, Human Resource Minister Pallam Raju and Minister of State for Railways KSP Reddy have given their resignations to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who is yet to accept the same. Telangana, one of the three regions of Andhra Pradesh, has a population of more than 35 million, and it comprises 10 of the state's 23 districts. In fact, the protesters are mainly concerned about the Andhra Pradesh's rich capital Hyderabad -- home to many major information technology and pharmaceutical companies -- which is to be shared by both the states for the next 10 years. Experts say that the Congress bifurcated the state with an eye on the next general elections slated for May 2014.