Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu asserted that Amaravati would remain the capital of Andhra Pradesh (A.P.) forever and hoped that justice would prevail if a government attempts to change it in future. “In our democratic set-up, there are checks and balances. A Legislature makes laws. If the Executive fails to implement those laws, the Judiciary will step in to play its role to safeguard public interests,” he stated.
He said a majority of the capital works would be over by the end of 2028 and the Prime Minister would be invited to inaugurate the iconic buildings and trunk infrastructure in 2029. The capital would continue to be developed after that, including the Inner and Outer Ring Roads, the nine thematic cities and other projects, Mr. Naidu noted.
Addressing media persons at his camp office on Friday, Mr. Naidu said the capital could not be changed as per the whims and fancies of the government and if what happened between 2019 and 2024 were to repeat, the courts would not keep quiet.
Out of the 50 parties in Parliament, only the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) opposed the AP Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s suggestion of the area between Guntur, Vijayawada and Machilipatnam defied logic and exposed his mindset.
He recalled that Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy ruled the State from the very place — Amaravati — which he despised a lot, and said that by opposing the AP Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the form in which it was presented in the Parliament, the YSRCP MPs betrayed the interests of the State.
He pointed out that the entire region notified by the AP Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) would become the capital and there was scope to expand it further if required by following due procedures.
The Chief Minister said the TDP government had chosen to develop the Vijayawada – Guntur – Tenali – Mangalagiri area as the capital of A.P. by considering its central location as the main criterion and proceeded only after obtaining the consensus of all stakeholders.
Disruption by YSRCP
The capital project was progressing smoothly till Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSRCP came to power. His three capitals plan came as a major disruption. The YSRCP government had brought in AP Decentralization and Inclusive Development of All Regions and the CRDA Repeal Acts but ultimately its evil designs were thwarted.
As if the prayers of the beleaguered Amaravati farmers and people of A.P. were answered, the High Court ordered in March 2022 that Amaravati should be developed as the capital.
NDA win a big boost
The TDP – Jana Sena Party – BJP alliance’s victory in the 2024 elections breathed life into Amaravati again. The government got Amaravati declared as the capital as it could no longer afford to leave any scope for the kind of mischief which the YSRCP had committed to the detriment of the State, he said, adding that A.P. needs a growth engine like Hyderabad.
Published – April 03, 2026 07:18 pm IST
