A day before his anticipated swearing-in as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu dropped a monumental announcement concerning the administrative future of the state. On Tuesday, Naidu declared that Amaravati would be reinstated and firmly established as the singular capital of Andhra Pradesh, discarding the previous government’s proposition of multiple capitals.
This decisive statement was made during a joint meeting that included legislators from the TDP, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Janasena Party. “In our government, there will be no games under the guise of three capitals. Our capital is Amaravati. Amaravati is the capital,” Naidu asserted, leaving no room for ambiguity on the issue.
From 2014 to 2019, N Chandrababu Naidu served as the first Chief Minister of the bifurcated Andhra Pradesh and had originally envisioned Amaravati as the capital city. The greenfield city, located strategically between Vijayawada and Guntur, was planned to be an environmentally sustainable metropolis covering an expanse of up to 29 villages. Through a land pooling system, Naidu managed to acquire up to 30,000 acres of land from farmers, laying the groundwork for Amaravati’s development.
The foundation stone for Amaravati was laid on October 22, 2015, in a ceremony graced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. However, Naidu’s vision encountered a significant stumbling block in 2019 when the TDP lost power to the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). Naidu’s successor, Reddy, shifted gears, proposing a controversial three-capital model for the state, which now appears to be a dead concept following his defeat in the recent 2024 elections.
The resounding victory of the NDA alliance—comprising the TDP, BJP, and Janasena—has reinvigorated hopes for Amaravati. The capital city is now anticipated to witness rapid developmental activities and an influx of investment. On April 30, while releasing the election manifesto at his residence in Undavalli, Naidu reaffirmed his commitment to developing Amaravati into the capital city of Andhra Pradesh.
TDP General Secretary Nara Lokesh, who secured a win in the Mangalagiri assembly segment, reiterated this commitment. Addressing reporters on June 4, Lokesh highlighted that the incoming government was resolute in its plans to develop Amaravati as the sole capital.
. TDP spokesperson Jyothsna Tirunagari emphasized that reconstructing Amaravati would be the top priority for the new government.
“Amaravati reconstruction is our first priority, there is no doubt about that. We achieved significant development during our 2014-2019 regime. After Jagan Mohan Reddy took over, he destroyed most of the progress made and demolished many structures. Roads were dug up during the YSRCP regime,” Tirunagari said, indicating that reconstruction efforts would need to start from scratch in many areas, sparing only the Secretariat and Assembly buildings.
During the previous TDP regime, Amaravati had always been a cornerstone of their development agenda. According to TDP officials, the capital city is now set to experience renewed pace and vigor, galvanizing stakeholders and residents alike. Farmers who had given their lands for the Amaravati project have expressed renewed hope following Naidu’s return to power.
One farmer, speaking to a regional news channel, articulated her optimism saying, “Chandrababu won and Amaravati is saved. After Babu (Chandrababu) won, we got a lot of clarity and there will also be the Central Government’s cooperation.” However, she pointed out ongoing issues, noting that farmers who have been agitating for the past five years will continue their protests until they receive their land leases, among other unresolved disputes.
Despite numerous agitations by the farmers who committed their lands for the capital city project, Reddy’s administration had largely ignored their pleas. This neglect has fostered a sense of betrayal among the agrarian community, who look to Naidu’s administration for redressal and justice.
As Chandrababu Naidu prepares to take the oath of office, the anticipation around Amaravati’s redevelopment is palpable. Citizens and stakeholders await tangible developmental commitments and actions that would finally turn Amaravati into the capital city it was promised to be. With a unified government and the robust backing of an enthusiastic populace, hopes are high that Amaravati will emerge as the emblematic seat of power and progress in Andhra Pradesh.
(with inputs from PTI)
