The Amaravati capital project has once again sparked a political confrontation in Andhra Pradesh after YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy accused the state government of forcibly acquiring agricultural land from farmers in Undavalli. Alleging that police personnel and bulldozers were deployed to farmers' fields, Jagan claimed standing crops had been destroyed even though the matter remains pending before the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) rejected the allegations, maintaining that all legal procedures had been followed.

Calling the government's actions a "brutal assault on farmers," Jagan alleged that the affected landowners were marginal farmers who depended entirely on agriculture for their livelihood. He questioned the necessity of acquiring additional land after thousands of acres had already been pooled for the Amaravati capital project. Demanding an immediate halt to the acquisition process, he said no land should be taken without the consent of farmers and called for adequate compensation for those affected.

In a detailed statement posted on social media, the former chief minister claimed the disputed land was located in a prime area near Vijayawada, adjoining the Chennai-Kolkata National Highway and the Tadepalli urban region. He alleged that the compensation offered did not reflect the land's market value and questioned who would ultimately benefit from the acquisition. The YSRCP also described the deployment of police and earthmoving machinery as a misuse of state power intended to pressure farmers into surrendering their land.

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Responding to the allegations, TDP Politburo member Nakka Ananda Babu accused the opposition of politicising the issue and using a handful of farmers to obstruct the development of Amaravati. He said nearly 99 per cent of farmers had voluntarily participated in the land-pooling scheme and asserted that the Capital Region Development Authority had adhered to all legal requirements while encouraging landowners to opt for pooling instead of compulsory acquisition.

According to the TDP leader, discussions with landowners resulted in more than seven of the 10.5 acres initially identified for acquisition being shifted to the land-pooling scheme, leaving only around 2.7 acres for formal acquisition. He added that the government had sanctioned Rs 7.14 crore in compensation for 11 affected farmers, including payments for crops and structures. He further said the remaining compensation amount had been deposited with the appropriate tribunal after some landowners declined to accept the cheques.

The latest dispute has once again placed the Amaravati capital project at the centre of Andhra Pradesh's political landscape, with both the YSRCP and TDP claiming to be acting in the interests of farmers. While Amaravati remains the state's legally recognised capital, the debate over land acquisition and alternative development proposals continues to shape political discourse. The issue is expected to remain a significant factor in the run-up to the 2029 Andhra Pradesh Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

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