New Delhi, April 1 – The YSR Congress Party staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha during the debate on a bill to grant Amaravati the status of Andhra Pradesh’s sole capital, arguing that it would be detrimental to the state's people.
While clarifying that they did not oppose Amaravati, YSRCP leader P.V. Midhun Reddy stated that the party opposed the bill in its current form.
He argued that simply declaring Amaravati the capital would be ineffective and that the government should protect the interests of farmers who had provided land for the development of the state capital.
Earlier, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai introduced the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2026.
The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, would be amended to recognize Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh.
The YSRCP leader demanded that the government specify the funds to be allocated for building the state capital, the extent of land required, and a timeline.
He also pointed out that none of the 29,000 farmers who had provided 34,000 acres of land had received the developed plots and other benefits promised by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu within the seven years of his rule.
He further questioned the need for acquiring more land in Amaravati, given that the government already possessed 54,000 acres for the capital. “Are you planning to build a state capital larger than Kolkata?” he asked.
Midhun Reddy reiterated the allegations of insider trading in Amaravati. He stated that after assuming office as Chief Minister in 2014, Chandrababu Naidu had announced that Tiruvuru would be developed as the state capital, but after he and those close to him purchased land in Amaravati at low prices, he declared that Amaravati would be the capital.
The YSRCP member also accused the Chandrababu Naidu government of focusing on Amaravati due to the large sums of money involved in contracts. He cited the inflated rates for the development of ministers’ quarters and other buildings.
Earlier, Congress member B. Manickam Tagore declared full support for the bill on behalf of the Congress party.
He stated that a state cannot progress without certainty, and investment cannot flow without clarity.
Tagore said that Amaravati should be built as a world-class capital in line with the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh.
He alleged that injustice was meted out to Andhra Pradesh as the Centre failed to fulfill the commitments made in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014.
He said that the Congress party will not remain silent on this injustice. He demanded that the Centre fulfill its assurance given to Andhra Pradesh by granting it special category status.
The Congress member demanded that the Centre provide all the funds required for the development of the state capital. He also wanted the Centre to support Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, the IT and Pharma sectors in Visakhapatnam, and infrastructure development in Tirupati.
Minister of State for Rural Development P. Chandra Sekhar termed it a historic and emotional moment for the entire state of Andhra Pradesh.
The minister, whose constituency includes Guntur, where the upcoming state capital is located, slammed YSRCP for what he called "shattering the dream of people through destruction" during its rule from 2019 to 2024.
He alleged that former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy created divisions among people of the three regions in the name of decentralisation and three capitals.
The MoS said that farmers who had given their lands and women of Amaravati were subjected to humiliation and atrocities for opposing the three capitals policy.
He referred to the protest by Amaravati farmers and women for more than 1,500 days and remarked that history will not forget Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Chandra Sekhar said that after the coalition government re-launched work in Amaravati, infrastructure projects worth Rs 56,000 crore were taken up. Amaravati is also being developed as Quantum Valley.
The minister said that the legislation will expedite the development of Amaravati by providing clarity. He said this was important to ensure that no one in the future resorts to what Jagan Mohan Reddy did in five years.
BJP member C.M. Ramesh said that for the first time in the history of Parliament, a Bill has been brought to recognise a particular area as the capital of a state. He said that the credit for this goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.
He alleged that Jagan Mohan Reddy was hell-bent on destroying the capital Amaravati. He said that with the passing of this Bill, no one in the future can shift the capital at his whims and fancies.
Ramesh demanded that YSRCP apologize to the people of Andhra Pradesh for what it did in those five years through its policy of three capitals.
The BJP member said that if YSRSRCP does not support the Bill, it would once again be seen as a party betraying Amaravati.