Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 to Declare Amaravati as Sole Capital Set for Lok Sabha Introduction

According to the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's Office, the move is intended to provide statutory clarity to the capital status, aligning with the vision of the TDP-led NDA government. The Bill seeks to amend the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, by adding the phrase, "Amaravati shall be the new capital."

Following the formation of Telangana as a separate state, the original Act of 2014 stipulated that Hyderabad would serve as the common capital for both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for a period not exceeding ten years. Thereafter, Hyderabad would remain the capital of Telangana, while Andhra Pradesh would establish a new capital.

On March 28, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly unanimously passed a resolution supporting Amaravati as the single capital, paving the way for the introduction of the Amendment Bill in Parliament. The Centre is expected to amend Section 5(2) of the 2014 Act to explicitly name Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh.

However, the move has triggered sharp political opposition. Former chief minister and YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy accused TDP supremo and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of using the capital issue to divert attention from "corruption and looting." Addressing a press conference, Jagan Mohan Reddy questioned the constitutional basis of declaring Amaravati as the state's only capital.

"Show me where the Constitution says every state must have one fixed capital," he said, asserting that the Constitution only mentions the capital of India and refers to states in terms of seats of governance. He further argued that the term "capital" does not appear in the Constitution concerning states and claimed that the Union government had earlier informed the Andhra Pradesh High Court that it has no role in deciding a state capital.

"The Centre officially told the High Court that choosing a capital is entirely the right of the state government. If that is true for every other state, why is Andhra Pradesh being treated differently?" he asked. He also cited the formation of Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh in 2000, stating that their capitals were determined by the respective states and not the Centre.

Jagan Mohan Reddy also criticized the pace of development in Amaravati, questioning what had been achieved in nearly seven years despite the acquisition of around 50,000 acres of land. He noted that Chandrababu Naidu had promised the world's best capital, yet basic infrastructure such as roads, power, water, and drainage for the first 50,000 acres would require nearly Rs 1 lakh crore. He further pointed out that the master plan had been expanded by another 50,000 acres, adding an additional Rs 1 lakh crore burden.

Amaravati has emerged as the central issue in Andhra Pradesh politics, not merely as a proposed state capital but as the cornerstone of Chandrababu Naidu's political vision. Following the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014, Hyderabad was allocated to Telangana, leaving the residuary state without a capital. Naidu subsequently proposed a greenfield capital between Vijayawada and Guntur on the banks of the Krishna River, envisioning Amaravati as a world-class city modeled on Singapore.

The TDP government acquired nearly 33,000 acres from farmers across 29 villages through land pooling, later expanding the capital region to approximately 53,000 acres. Farmers contributed land with expectations of receiving developed plots and long-term benefits. International firms, including Foster + Partners and consultants from Singapore, designed a master plan featuring the Assembly, Secretariat, High Court, financial district, start-up hub, metro corridor, and infrastructure to support a population of 3.5 million by 2050. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for Amaravati in 2015.

The project's trajectory shifted in 2019 when Jagan Mohan Reddy assumed office and proposed the "three-capitals" model, designating Amaravati as the legislative capital, Visakhapatnam as the executive capital, and Kurnool as the judicial capital. The proposal faced strong opposition from the TDP and Amaravati farmers, leading to prolonged protests, legal battles, and intense political confrontation.

With Chandrababu Naidu returning as C

hief Minister, the state Assembly has reaffirmed its position by passing a resolution to recognize Amaravati as the sole capital. The introduction of the Amendment Bill in Parliament is being viewed as the final attempt to legally settle the prolonged dispute and establish Amaravati as the definitive capital of Andhra Pradesh.

The outcome of this legislative move is expected to have far-reaching implications, not only for administrative clarity but also for the political landscape of Andhra Pradesh, where the capital issue continues to shape governance, development, and regional aspirations.