Legislation on legal sanctity to Amaravati appears imminent
The need has arisen to avoid the possibility of change in the capital
image for illustrative purpose
Amaravati: Following consistent pressure from the TDP and its allies in Andhra Pradesh, the Centre is likely to table a bill in Parliament to amend AP Reorganisation Act to legally declare that Amaravati is the capital of the State.
The Centre has completed consultations on the issue and a formal approval is required from the Union Cabinet for tabling the bill in the ensuing session of the Parliament on January 28, informed sources said.
The need has arisen to avoid the possibility of change in the capital.
TDP State president and MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao said they are keen on the amendment to rule out the possibility of changing the capital going by the bitter experience during the YSRCP regime. During his tenure as Chief Minister, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy had announced the formation of three capitals with Visakhapatnam as executive capital, Amaravati as legislative capital and Kurnool as judicial capital leading to filing of a bunch of petitions in courts against trifurcation of capital and spearheading of an agitation by Amaravati JAC formed by farmers of 29 villages to retain Amaravati as the single capital.
Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated forming two States on June 2, 2014. As per the AP Reorganisation Act, Hyderabad was the joint capital of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
However, during his earlier stint as Chief Minister, Naidu had decided to develop Amaravati as the new capital of Andhra Pradesh and accordingly shifted the government employees from Hyderabad.
TDP feels that as the 10-year term is over, now it is the responsibility of the Centre to make required legislation to declare Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
During his recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah before flying to Davos, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu appealed to him to declare Amaravati as the legal capital by amending the AP Reorganisation Act.
He strongly contended that legal sanctity to Amaravati will boost the investors' confidence thereby building a futuristic capital city.
