Seven years after it was created as a residuary state, Andhra Pradesh is yet to have a permanent capital or capitals in the true spirit of the term. The capital status of the coastal state changed from a standalone capital to three capitals and then back to a single capital. Early this week, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government decided to repeal two bills and restore pre-2020 capital status of the state.
The first bill aimed to repeal the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) Act, 2014 brought in by the previous government. The second bill, the AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill, 2020 was to create three capitals.
As it stands now, Amaravati is back to being the capital.
It may be recalled that, in 2015, the then Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu decided to build a mega capital between Vijayawada and Guntur town called Amaravati. With the exit of Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 2019 state elections, Amaravati project was also shown the door. With the YSRCP government in power, the new CM Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy envisioned a decentralised development with the creation of three capitals—Vizag, Amaravati, Kurnool—located in three regions of the state. Time and again, the ruling party justified their decision by reasoning that the Amaravati capital project of the previous government was not feasible.
In 2020, soon after the three capital bill was passed, there was a flurry of petitions in the high court opposing it. A section of farmers from the Amaravati capital region who parted with their lands and were unsure about their fate were one section of petitioners. Some others including those aligned to the TDP knocked on the court doors challenging the government’s bills on technical grounds like on the issue of shifting the judiciary. Around 80 petitions were clubbed together and heard over a period of one and half years during the terms of two chief justices of the high court of AP.
During this time, the real estate prices dipped in Amaravati, while, in Vizag, it shot up. A group of farmers in Amaravati protested continuously and later also undertook a padayatra. The TDP on its part went on a mission mode to halt the process.
A political disadvantage of YSRCP turned into a thorn for its own ideas. When the three capital bills were introduced, the YSRCP had 151 legislators in the 175 member assembly. However, in the council, it’s strength was only 9 while TDP had majority numbers among the 58 members. The two bills were passed in the assembly comfortably, however, it hit a roadblock as the council dominated by the TDP referred the bills to a select committee. Later, a TDP leader also went to court over a delay in the formation of the select committee. The select committee was not formed and later, the governor gave his assent to the bills. A lawyer arguing the case on behalf of petitioners said that both chairman of council and speaker of assembly should sign and send the bill to the governor and as the chairman did not sign it, it made their case stronger. He said that since the select committee wasn’t formed it added strength to their case opposing the process of creating new capitals.
Springing a surprise, the AP cabinet recently repealed both the bills and the high court was informed about the same by the advocate general of AP. The YSRCP government has decided to start afresh with a clean slate as it expects the court to close the case.
Though the move of the YSRCP government came around the same time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi repealed the farm laws, both cannot be compared. While PM Modi has clearly put forward his intention of withdrawing the laws, CM Jagan’s stand has been different. Speaking on the floor of the assembly he said that the bills were being withdrawn so that another bill in a better form could be introduced. This shows the resolve of CM Y.S. Jagan to not go back on his word on three capitals.
Prior to these developments, a YSRCP MLC, Moshen Raju, has been elected as the chairman of the council. The YSRCP now has the required majority numbers in the council. Whenever the bills are passed, the government expects a smooth affair, escaping the hurdles experienced previously. Going by the words of the CM, a tighter and foolproof bill might be on the cards soon. But the question is when will it be introduced? And even if it is, what will the political opponents do this time to thwart it’s progress?
After the bill was passed, the TDP, BJP or other opposition parties did not claim any moral victory as they know that it will be another round of battle with a better prepared YSRCP government this time.
There is an example in the north of the country which the people of the state may not wish to emulate. 20 years after it’s formation, Uttarakhand still does not have a permanent capital. With a temporary capital and a summer capital, consecutive ruling parties have been indecisive on the creation of a permanent capital. For Andhra Pradesh, the year 2022 will be crucial as it will show which direction and how far is the capital.
