(Image source from: DDnews.gov.in)
A new law aimed at establishing Amaravati as the only and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh was approved by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, receiving backing from the opposition Congress and the NDA. The YSR Congress Party, known as YSRCP, disagreed with the Bill during the discussion and left the House in protest when it was approved. This legislation will stop any future attempts to change the decision that makes Amaravati the exclusive and lasting capital. It was approved through a voice vote, achieving a goal for Andhra Pradesh's Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, whose party TDP is an important part of the ruling NDA.
After a debate that lasted almost two hours on the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, State Minister for Home Nityanand Rai expressed gratitude to the members for their support of a resolution from the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly, which called on the Centre to legally affirm Amaravati as the capital. When the Bill is enacted, Amaravati will officially become the only and enduring capital of Andhra Pradesh starting June 2, 2024.
At the beginning of the debate, Congress member B. Manickam Tagore indicated that his party is fully in favor of the legislation but emphasized the need for special category status for Andhra Pradesh. He stated, “Let Amaravati grow like Bengaluru, Chennai or Hyderabad. Let Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Kurnool also advance. We back Amaravati as the lasting capital of Andhra Pradesh. ” During his time as chief minister, YSRCP leader Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had suggested a plan for three capitals for Andhra Pradesh – an executive capital in Visakhapatnam, a legislative capital in Amaravati, and a judicial capital in Kurnool, instead of having just one capital city. After Naidu resumed power in 2024, he brought back Amaravati as the sole capital. In the debate, TDP member and Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani asked the House to pass the Bill unanimously, stating that it would guarantee a permanent capital for Andhra Pradesh.
In favor of the Bill, BJP member C. M. Ramesh stated that, for the first time in independent India, a Bill has been introduced in Parliament to name a specific location as a state capital. He mentioned that from this point onward, “no one will be able to interfere” with the capital of Andhra Pradesh, as Amaravati will be its only and permanent capital. Ramesh criticized the three-capital model as “not logical and unreasonable”. He said, “This Bill will ensure that nobody can tamper with the capital of Andhra Pradesh. We desire a permanent capital for Andhra Pradesh, and this will lead to revenue and the state's prosperity. ” However, the YSR Congress Party, seen as a major competitor to the TDP, strongly opposed the Bill, arguing that it did not provide clear protections for farmers' interests or timelines for compensation related to the land taken for Amaravati.
YSRCP representative P. V. Midhun Reddy mentioned that 34,000 acres were taken for the capital with assurances of developed land, housing, and free education for the families affected. However, he claimed that these promises have not been kept. “They do not care about farmers. Provide a clear date and timeline for when the plots will be allocated. Include all of these points in the Bill. Otherwise, it serves no purpose,” he stated.
Reddy also raised concerns about the financial plan for creating such a large capital. “You intend to build a capital larger than Kolkata, but there is no explanation of where the money will come from,” he expressed. The YSRCP MP supported his party’s previous proposal for three capitals, pointing out that similar models are found around the world. “We want the Bill to safeguard farmers' interests. There should be a clear timeline. Without this, the current Bill is ineffective. We are not against Amaravati, but we need clarity,” he remarked.
The Bill shared with Lok Sabha members indicates that the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014 stipulates that Hyderabad would act as a shared capital for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for a maximum of ten years. After this timeframe, Hyderabad will continue to be the capital of Telangana, while Andhra Pradesh will establish its own capital. Following the reorganisation law's implementation, the Andhra Pradesh government, after careful planning, designated Amaravati as the new capital, as noted in the Bill. Once it is enacted, Amaravati will be officially recognized as the capital of Andhra Pradesh starting June 2, 2024.
Furthermore, it mentioned that important administrative, legislative, and infrastructure actions have already been taken to develop Amaravati into the state capital. The Bill also highlighted that on March 28, the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution to seek an amendment to Section 5 of the Reorganisation Act to officially designate Amaravati as the capital. To implement this resolution and ensure legal clarity, the Bill suggests modifying subsection (2) of Section 5 of the Act to establish Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh effective from June 2, 2024.
