New Delhi, April 2 (IANS) Parliament on Thursday gave its final approval to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, officially designating Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh. The Rajya Sabha passed the bill through a voice vote, a day after the Lok Sabha cleared it.

The legislation amends the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, to provide statutory backing to Amaravati as the state’s only capital with effect from June 2, 2024. The bill seeks to end years of uncertainty and political flip-flops over the capital issue that arose after the 2014 bifurcation of the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh. It effectively rules out any future attempts to alter the capital’s status or revive the previous three-capital model.

Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan congratulated the people of Andhra Pradesh on the historic development, describing it as a step that brings long-awaited administrative clarity and paves the way for focused development and good governance in the greenfield capital city.

During the debate in the Rajya Sabha, Yerram Venkata Subba Reddy of the YSR Congress Party opposed the bill in its present form. He argued that it fails to address the hardships faced by thousands of farmers who surrendered their land for Amaravati but have yet to receive adequate compensation.

He questioned the definition of “capital” and the very basis on which the bill seeks to declare Amaravati as the permanent capital.

Union Minister of Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu strongly countered the opposition. He pointed out that different parties had taken varying stands on the capital issue over the years.

“If a person at the helm of state affairs makes irresponsible statements, what is going to be the future of the State?” he asked.

Naidu highlighted the confusion created in the past: “We are not able to tell where the capital of the State is if someone asks.” He accused the previous government of being irresponsible on the matter and asserted that the NDA government fully supports the rebuilding of Amaravati.

He saluted the “hard work and sacrifice of farmers and women of Andhra Pradesh” who stood firm in their demand for a single, viable capital.

The passage of the bill is being seen as a major political and developmental victory for the TDP-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh. Once it receives presidential assent, it will bring legal finality to the capital question and facilitate large-scale infrastructure development in Amaravati.

–IANS

sktr/skp