YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has declared that his party will contest the next Assembly elections with the proposed "Mavigan" (Machilipatnam-Vijayawada-Guntur) capital region as a central campaign issue, reviving the long-running political debate over the state's capital. He said the election would present voters with a clear choice between Amaravati and the Mavigan proposal.

Addressing party supporters, Jagan Mohan Reddy said, "We will go to the elections with the Mavigan agenda. Mavigan is our slogan. Those who support us will vote for it. Let the people decide between Amaravati and Mavigan in the next elections." He reiterated that the YSRCP continues to back the Mavigan concept, arguing that the region offers natural advantages and already has significant infrastructure that could support administrative development.

The former chief minister also intensified his criticism of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, accusing it of using Amaravati as a pretext for corruption. He alleged that large sums of public money were being channelled to contractors under the guise of capital development and claimed that the Mavigan proposal offered a more practical and transparent alternative.

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Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu responded sharply to Jagan Mohan Reddy's remarks, accusing the YSRCP leader of repeatedly changing his position on the state's capital. Speaking at a public meeting, Naidu questioned the need for continued debate over the issue, saying, "Do we need a capital or not? Everyone wants a capital. Only the 'Axe Party' doesn't." He also criticised Jagan for creating uncertainty over Andhra Pradesh's capital policy.

Naidu said Jagan Mohan Reddy had supported Amaravati before the 2019 Assembly elections but shifted to a three-capital model after assuming office. According to the chief minister, the change in policy undermined investor confidence and created confusion over the state's administrative future, affecting development and economic prospects.

The capital issue has remained one of Andhra Pradesh's most contentious political subjects since the state's bifurcation in 2014. While the TDP has consistently backed Amaravati as the state's sole capital, the YSRCP has advocated alternative models aimed at decentralising administration. Jagan Mohan Reddy's renewed endorsement of the Mavigan proposal signals that the capital debate is set to remain a key electoral issue in the run-up to the next Assembly elections.

Also Read: Jagan’s Religious Outreach Faces Criticism As Naidu Sharpens Political Attack