Lok Sabha passes Bill declaring Amaravati as Andhra Pradesh capital

The Lok Sabha passed a Bill granting Amaravati legal status as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh, with support from Congress and NDA. YSRCP opposed the move and staged a walkout, citing concerns over farmers, funding and implementation clarity

New Delhi: A Bill seeking to recognise Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, with the opposition Congress also supporting it along with the NDA.

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) opposed the Bill during the debate and walked out of the House in protest when it was passed.

---

The Bill, which would prevent any future bid to alter the decision to make Amaravati the sole and permanent capital, was passed by a voice vote, fulfilling an aspiration of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, whose party TDP is a key constituent of the ruling NDA.

Responding to a nearly two-hour debate on the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai thanked members for supporting an Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly resolution that urged the Centre to provide legal backing to Amaravati as the state capital.

Once the Bill becomes law, Amaravati will be the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh with effect from June 2, 2024.

Earlier, initiating the debate, Congress member B. Manickam Tagore said his party fully supports the legislation but reiterated the 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.

During his tenure as chief minister, YSRCP leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had proposed a three-capital model for Andhra Pradesh — executive capital at Visakhapatnam, legislative capital at Amaravati and judicial capital at Kurnool — instead of a single capital city. After Naidu returned to power in 2024, he reinstated Amaravati as the sole capital.

Participating in the debate, TDP member and Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani appealed to the House to pass the Bill unanimously, saying it would ensure a permanent capital for Andhra Pradesh.

Supporting the Bill, BJP member C.M. Ramesh said this was the first time in independent India that a Bill had been introduced in Parliament to declare a specific place as a state capital.

From now onwards, “no one will be able to play” with the capital of Andhra Pradesh as Amaravati will be its sole and permanent capital, he said.

Ramesh termed the three-capital proposal “illogical and irrational”.

“This Bill will ensure that no one will play with the capital of Andhra Pradesh. We want a permanent capital for Andhra Pradesh and then there will be revenue and the state will flourish,” he said.

However, the TDP’s arch-rival YSR Congress Party strongly opposed the legislation, saying it lacked clarity on protecting farmers’ interests and timelines for compensation for land acquired for Amaravati.

YSRCP member P.V. Midhun Reddy said 34,000 acres were acquired for the capital with promises of developed plots, housing and free education for affected families, but alleged that these had not been fulfilled.

“They are not bothered about farmers. Give a specific date, a specific timeline on when the plots will be given. Incorporate all these points in the Bill. Otherwise, there is no meaning,” he said.

Reddy also questioned the funding plan for developing such a large capital.

“You want to develop a capital bigger than Kolkata, but there is no clarity on where the funds will come from,” he said.

The YSRCP MP defended his party’s earlier three-capital proposal, saying such models exist globally.

“We want farmers’ concerns protected in the Bill. There should be a definite timeline. Otherwise, this Bill in its present form has no purpose. We are not opposed to Amaravati, but clarity is essential,” he said.

According to the Bill circulated among Lok Sabha members, provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, state that Hyderabad would serve as the common capital for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for a period not exceeding 10 years.

After this period, Hyderabad would remain the capital of Telangana, while Andhra Pradesh would have its own capital.

Following the enactment of the reorganisation law, the Andhra Pradesh government, after due consideration and planning, identified and notified Amaravati as the new capital, the Bill noted.

Once enacted, Amaravati will be legally recognised as the capital of Andhra Pradesh with effect from June 2, 2024.

It added that significant administrative, legislative and infrastructure measures have already been undertaken to develop Amaravati as the state capital.

The Bill also noted that on March 28, the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed a resolution seeking an amendment to Section 5 of the Reorganisation Act to formally include Amaravati as the capital.

To give effect to this resolution and provide statutory clarity, the Bill proposes to amend sub-section (2) of Section 5 of the Act to incorporate Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh with effect from June 2, 2024.