New Delhi, April 2 – The Parliament on Thursday passed a bill seeking to recognize Amaravati as the sole and new capital of Andhra Pradesh. The Rajya Sabha passed the bill with a voice vote, and all parties except the YSRCP supported the proposed legislation.
In response to the debate on the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Upper House, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said that the state assembly passed a proposal on March 28, 2026, requesting the Centre to grant statutory status to Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh by amending the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
He stated that the resolution passed by the assembly requested an amendment to the Act, incorporating Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh, effective from June 2, 2024.
The minister congratulated the people of Andhra Pradesh, hoping that the state would reach new heights of progress to contribute towards achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Speaking on the bill, Sanjay Kumar Jha of JD(U) said that Chief Ministers N Chandrababu Naidu of Andhra Pradesh and Nitish Kumar of Bihar are the most important and trusted allies of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) from Atal Bihari Vajpayee's government to the present Narendra Modi-led regime.
Supporting the bill, he said that Amaravati will emerge as the best capital of the country in the coming years due to the visionary leadership of Chandrababu Naidu.
Masthan Rao Yadav Beedha of the TDP said, "This bill is not just a legislation; it is a moral promise that our farmers' sacrifices will not be forgotten. It will strengthen the state's identity, and ensure our children's future."
The bill restores the dignity, aspiration, and pride of the people of Andhra Pradesh, he added, stating that the people of the state were left without clarity and closure in February 2014, and after careful planning, Amaravati was chosen for its history, location, and potential.
The TDP MP lauded farmers of the state for donating thousands of acres of their land to build the capital.
"We will provide facilities like those in Singapore... We are creating opportunities for the people of Andhra Pradesh," he said.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu called it a "very emotional moment" for him.
"This redefines the pride, the faith, and the consciousness of the country regarding its democracy, leadership, and the entire political system... This is something that has far-reaching implications beyond simply being a subject of a state and its capital."
He said that when Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated and Telangana was formed in 2014, it was for the first time in history that a new state got a capital, and the other one was left without one. He called it a historic day for the "entire Telugu community".
YSRCP MP Yerram Venkata Subba Reddy, meanwhile, opposed the bill in its "present form", and said, "it is not addressing the problems of 29,000 farmers who have given 34,000 acres of farmland for Amaravati capital without any payment under land pooling."
Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury said the step was delayed, and it took 12 years to recognise Amaravati as Andhra Pradesh's capital.
"It is a shame that we are discussing the AP Reorganisation Bill, which should have been discussed 12 years ago. It is actually a statement of national shame for the so-called collective wisdom and intelligence of this House."
"It took 12 years to fulfill a commitment made on the floor of this House," she said.
Several Opposition MPs cautioned TDP about the BJP's alleged opportunistic approach, claiming it follows a "use-and-throw" policy. AAP MP Sanjay Singh advised Andhra CM Naidu to take "maximum advantage" of being an NDA partner, saying, "as long as you have the key in your hands, take all the funds allocated for Amaravati's development."
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, however, countered saying, "We honour friendship. We don't cheat."
Supporting the bill, Paka Venkata Satyanarayana of the BJP said that people kept trust in Amaravati and Chandrababu Naidu, and farmers donated 30,000 acres for land pooling.
Sandeep Kumar Pathak (Aam Aadmi Party) also expressed his party's support to it. He, however, stressed that the House must reflect on how petty politics, political incompetence and policy confusion can destroy the nation.
He said that the people of Andhra Pradesh have wished for Amaravati to be declared the capital of the state so the House must endorse it.
Sana Sathish Babu of TDP said Amaravati is not just the capital, it is the heartbeat of 5 crore people of Andhra Pradesh.
Ravi Chandra Vaddiraju of BRS also supported the bill.
Priyanka Chaturvedi of SS-UBT said, "I am happy to make my last speech of this term (Rajya Sabha) in solidarity with the people of Andhra Pradesh, especially the women and farmers of Amaravati for the long-awaited justice they sought from this country."
"When this Parliament carved out the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, it carved out a new state and left it quite literally without a capital, without a secretariat, without an administrative ecosystem.
"So while Telangana was given Hyderabad, a ready, globally recognised city, Andhra Pradesh was given a promise. Today we are here to put a name to that promise and while we welcome that, this House must not allow itself to celebrate without also accounting for the long injustice."
