AP No Longer Has a Capital Under YSRCP?

It is indeed unfortunate that, since the separation of Telangana in 2014, Andhra Pradesh has not yet established a definitive capital city. After the TDP came to power in the 2014 elections, the then Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu declared Amaravati as the capital, aiming to create a city that would cater to the needs of all regions and promote equal development. This decision was also supported by the main opposition party at the time, the YSRCP.

However, after the YSRCP government assumed power in the 2019 elections, there was a change in the stance on the capital issue. The administration declared that Andhra Pradesh would have three capitals, with efforts being made to shift the capital functions to Visakhapatnam.

This decision led to opposition from farmers who had already given their lands for the construction of Amaravati, resulting in legal cases being filed against the Jagan government.

The High Court rejected the YSRCP government’s stance on the capital, and the government filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s verdict.

The Supreme Court recently heard the petition filed by the Andhra Pradesh government and considered the arguments presented. However, the further hearing in this case has been adjourned until December.

As the court cases are ongoing, the YSRCP has been postponing the decision to govern from Visakhapatnam, despite previously stating its intention to do so for the past two years.

Recently, YSRCP leaders announced that Chief Minister Jagan will commence his governance from Visakhapatnam starting from Dussehra this year. However, political analysts believe that with the Supreme Court postponing the capital trial until December, the YSRCP has once again faced setbacks in the capital issue.