The Aryavarth Express
Agency (Amaravati): The political landscape in Andhra Pradesh is witnessing a new twist in its ongoing capital city saga, as the state’s ruling party YSRCP proposes a significant change just weeks before the simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. YSRCP leader Y.V. Subba Reddy suggested that Hyderabad should continue as the joint capital for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana until a new capital for Andhra is established.
This statement, coming from the uncle of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, is seen as a strategic move to shift the focus of the political debate. The opposition, including the TDP-Jana Sena alliance, has been vehemently criticizing the Jagan government for leaving the state without a capital.
The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014 designated Hyderabad as the joint capital for a decade, after which it would solely belong to Telangana. The Congress-led UPA government’s decision was aimed at pacifying the residual state’s residents over the loss of Hyderabad, which had been the capital since 1956. However, Andhra Pradesh still lacks its own capital city.
Former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu initiated the development of Amaravati as the new capital in 2015, persuading farmers to participate in land pooling for the project. However, the TDP’s defeat in 2019 brought a halt to Amaravati’s development, as Jagan Mohan Reddy announced a plan for three state capitals – Visakhapatnam as administrative, Kurnool as judicial, and retaining Amaravati as legislative.
The proposed tri-capital plan has faced significant legal challenges, particularly from Amaravati farmers, and remains unresolved. Jagan’s government has been unable to shift its base to Visakhapatnam despite repeated announcements.
The YSRCP’s latest suggestion of extending Hyderabad’s joint capital status has met with mixed reactions. Education Minister Botsa Satyanarayana expressed doubts about its feasibility, while opposition leaders, including TDP’s Chandrababu Naidu, have criticized the proposal as indecisive and politically motivated. Allegations of protecting illegal assets in Hyderabad by YSRCP leaders were also raised by TDP’s Andhra Pradesh unit president K. Atchen Naidu.
Y.S. Sharmila, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee chief and Jagan’s sister, condemned the government’s inability to develop a proper state capital and viewed the new proposal as a ploy to distract from electoral defeat.
Legal proceedings regarding the capital issue are ongoing. The Andhra Pradesh High Court had previously ordered the development of Amaravati as the state capital within six months. This decision was stayed by the Supreme Court, which did not, however, invalidate Amaravati’s status as the capital or the law on three capitals. The Supreme Court is expected to comprehensively hear the arguments in April.
As elections approach, the controversy over Andhra Pradesh’s capital remains a central issue, reflecting deep political divides and ongoing legal battles that continue to shape the state’s future.