The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill to recognise Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh, with support from both the ruling NDA and the opposition Indian National Congress.
The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill was cleared by voice vote following a nearly two-hour debate. The legislation seeks to provide statutory backing to Amaravati as the state’s capital, preventing any future alteration of its status.
The YSR Congress Party opposed the bill and staged a walkout during its passage, raising concerns over the interests of farmers and the absence of a clear roadmap for compensation.
Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, replying to the debate, thanked members for backing a resolution passed by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly urging the Centre to grant legal recognition to Amaravati as the capital.
Once enacted, the law will recognise Amaravati as the sole capital with effect from June 2, 2024.
Initiating the discussion, Congress leader Manickam Tagore said his party supported the bill but reiterated its demand for special category status for Andhra Pradesh. “Let Amaravati develop like Bengaluru, Chennai or Hyderabad. Let Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Kurnool also develop. We support Amaravati as the permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh,” he said.
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The move aligns with the position of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is a key NDA ally. Naidu had reversed the earlier policy of having three capitals proposed by the previous YSRCP government led by Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Under that proposal, Visakhapatnam was to serve as the executive capital, Amaravati as the legislative capital, and Kurnool as the judicial capital.
Supporting the bill, BJP member C M Ramesh described the three-capital plan as “illogical and irrational” and said the new legislation would ensure stability. “This bill will ensure that no one will play with the capital of Andhra Pradesh,” he said.
However, YSRCP MP P. V. Midhun Reddy argued that the bill overlooked farmers’ concerns. He said around 34,000 acres had been acquired for Amaravati with promises of developed plots, housing and education benefits, which, he alleged, remain unfulfilled.
“They are not bothered about farmers. Give a specific date, a specific timeline… Otherwise there is no meaning,” he said, questioning the funding sources for developing such a large capital.
The bill amends provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 to formally designate Amaravati as the state capital, following a resolution passed by the state Assembly on March 28.
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