Lok Sabha Seals Amaravati as Andhra Pradesh's One and Only Capital City
Parliament approves amendment recognising Amaravati as Andhra Pradesh's official state capital.
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, through a voice vote, formally recognising Amaravati as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh. The legislation marks a significant step in resolving the long-standing capital issue in the state. However, the move triggered political opposition, with the YSR Congress Party staging a walkout during the proceedings.
The bill was introduced by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai after being added to the day’s agenda through a supplementary list of business. It proposes an amendment to Section 5 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, to include Amaravati as the official capital with effect from June 2, 2024. The Centre’s move follows a resolution passed by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on March 28, urging formal legal recognition of Amaravati as the state capital.
The development comes days after Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu stated that legal clarity on the capital issue could only be achieved through amendments to the Reorganisation Act. The passage of the bill is seen as an effort by the central government to provide that certainty and settle the prolonged debate over the state’s administrative headquarters following its bifurcation in 2014.
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While members of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Telugu Desam Party welcomed the legislation, calling it a decisive move, the YSR Congress Party strongly opposed it. The party argued that the bill fails to adequately address concerns related to financial implications and compensation for farmers who had given up land for the capital project. The walkout underscored continuing political divisions over the issue, even as the government pushed ahead with its plan to establish Amaravati as the sole capital of the state.
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