Parl passes bill to recognise Amaravati as AP’s new capital

New Delhi: Parliament on Thursday passed AP Reorganisation Bill with Rajya Sabha approving the legislation, giving statutory status to Amaravati as the permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh. Chief minister N Chandra Babu Naidu called this a "historic moment for the state" while his son and state IT minister Nara Lokesh termed this as "homecoming" for its people and a move that will spur private sector investment in the new capital as the legal status will act as a massive catalyst.The bill was passed by voice vote with all political parties except YSR Congress members, who staged a walkout. "On behalf of the entire House and the entire country we wish the people of Andhra Pradesh to have their new well built capital Amaravati," Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan said. Nara Lokesh was present in the visitor's gallery throughout the debate on the bill.In a post on X, Naidu said, "This is a historic and defining moment for Andhra Pradesh. With the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 being passed unanimously in both Houses of Parliament, the collective will and aspirations of our people have found a resounding voice at the national level." Nara Lokesh in a post said, "The eclipse that had befallen Amaravati has passed… Legitimacy has come to the people's capital, Amaravati. Let us light lamps in front of every house at 7 pm this evening and celebrate this historic victory. Our capital… Our pride."Participating in the discussion, civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu spoke about the atrocities faced by farmers who voluntarily donated land for the capital. He added that when Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated it was left without a capital. "Amaravati stands strong today because of its farmers and women power, who selflessly gave their lands and courageously protected the capital during times of crisis. Their sacrifice and resilience are the true foundation of this city. We remain forever indebted to them, and their contribution will always be remembered with deep gratitude and respect," he said.Some of the opposition MPs while supporting the bill "cautioned" the TDP of the BJP suggesting that they must take "full advatange" of their pole position in the NDA govt.Responding to concerns about whether a future govt could reverse the legislation, Nara Lokesh told reporters, "Bills can always be amended, you need a majority. But I believe it will not change. Everyone has voted for Amaravati to be the sole and permanent capital."He also said, "This is our fourth time trying to build a capital. It's homecoming. This will definitely put Amaravati on the fast track," while adding that the state suffered "grave injustice" upon its bifurcation from Telangana in 2014 and was left without a capital, secretariat or high court.On the contribution of farmers in laying the foundation of the state capital, he said nearly 35,000 acres were pooled by farmers in just 58 days to build a new capital on the banks of the Krishna river. He slammed the previous YSRCP govt of "wasting" under former CM Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who had himself promised before the 2019 elections that Amaravati would remain the sole capital. He said the three-capital proposal of last CM was "a failed model globally".The TDP general secretary said, "He (Jagan Mohan Reddy) had specifically stated that he had built a house there and there was no way he was going to shift the capital. People of Amaravati believed him." Nara Lokesh said that the NDA fought the 2024 assembly elections on the single plank of one-state-one-capital, winning 164 of 175 seats. He added that people of Visakhapatnam gave them the highest majority where the "so-called executive capital was supposed to come up".In response to questions on the pace of development, he said works worth close to Rs 50,000 crore had been tendered and the central govt had released nearly Rs 18,000 crore to the state since 2024. He added that the secretariat, assembly, high court, and all major roads will be completed in two years before the PM comes to inaugurate them. "Phase one will be done by the end of our current term, no second thoughts about it," he said.