Rajya Sabha debates Bill granting Amaravati sole capital status

The Rajya Sabha began debate on the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to grant statutory status to Amaravati as the State’s sole capital, ending years of uncertainty following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Thursday started debate on the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which grants statutory status to Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh.

The bill, moved by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityananda Rai, was adopted amidst sloganeering by opposition members.

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Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu sharply criticised the opposition for adopting inconsistent stands on the capital issue. “If a person at the helm of state affairs makes irresponsible statements, what is going to be the future of the State?” he asked, referring to the previous YSRCP government’s three-capital policy.

Naidu highlighted the confusion created over the years: “We are not able to tell where the capital of the State is if someone asks.”

He accused the previous regime of being irresponsible and praised the NDA government for supporting the rebuilding of Amaravati.

The minister saluted the “hard work and sacrifice of farmers and women of Andhra Pradesh” who had fought for the capital.

Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury described the prolonged delay in settling the capital issue as “a statement of national shame” and questioned the “collective wisdom and intelligence of the House.”

She said it had taken 12 years for Parliament to address this through proper procedure. However, she welcomed the bill, stating that the government had finally come to the House to declare Amaravati as the capital.

Chowdhury added that this was “the victory of the farmers who fought day and night for this.”

The bill seeks to amend the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, by providing legal sanctity to Amaravati as the state’s only capital, ending years of uncertainty following the 2014 bifurcation.

It effectively nullifies any future attempts to change the capital status.

The legislation, which was passed by the Lok Sabha on April 1 by voice vote with Congress support, aims to bring stability and clarity for development in the region. The NDA government has positioned the move as fulfilling long-pending aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh, particularly the farming community that had given up land for the capital city.