A TDP cadre lights fireworks as the Lok Sabha passes the AP Reorganization Bill, 2026, seeking recognition of Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh, in Vijayawada on April 2, 2026. | Photo credit: Giri KVS
With the Rajya Sabha passing the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization (Amendment) Bill on Thursday, packages are cleared for the inclusion of Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh in the original bill with effect from June 2, 2024.
Almost all political parties supported the bill in the upper house, except YSRCP MPs who argued that the bill cannot be passed in its current form as it ignores the demands of farmers in the area.
Senior Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury, who opened the debate on the bill, said the move to recognize Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh was long overdue. “It is shameful that we are debating the AP Reorganization Bill which should have been debated 12 years ago. It is actually a statement of national shame on the so-called collective wisdom and intelligence of this House. It has taken 12 years to fulfill the commitment made on the floor of this House,” she said.
Long Injustice’
Shiv Sena’s (UBT) Priyanka Chaturvedi noted that Parliament created a new state 12 years ago but left it without a capital, without a secretariat and without an administrative ecosystem. “So while Telangana was given Hyderabad, a ready-made, globally recognized city, Andhra Pradesh was given a promise. We are here today to name that promise, and while we welcome it, this House cannot afford to celebrate without also reckoning with a long injustice,” she said.
In his reply, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said that the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on 28 March 2026 passed a motion asking the Union Government to grant statutory status to Amaravati as the state capital by amending the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act, 2014. “The resolution passed by the Assembly sought an amendment to the Act with effect from June 2014 to include the capital Amaravati in 2024,” he said.
An emotional moment
In his intervention, Civil Aviation Minister and TDP leader K. Rammohan Naidu said the passage of the bill marked an emotional moment for him. “This is redefining the pride, the faith, this is redefining the consciousness of the country that it has, of its democracy, of its leadership and also of the entire political system… And that is something that has much stronger implications than looking at it simply or only as an entity of a state and its capital (sic),” the minister said, adding that it was a historic day for “the entire Telugu community”.
YSRCP MP Yerram Venkata Subba Reddy, who opposed the bill, said it failed to address the issues of 29,000 farmers who had given 34,000 acres of agricultural land for Amaravati under land pooling without receiving any payment.
Telugu Desam Party’s Masthan Rao Yadav Beedha said the legislation was a moral pledge that the sacrifices of farmers would not be forgotten. “The proposal restores the dignity, aspiration and pride of the people of Andhra Pradesh,” he added.
Although he supported the bill, Trinamool Congress’s Md Nadimul Haque warned the TDP to learn from recent developments in Bihar and Maharashtra, where the BJP took over powers from its allies. “I will advise them to beware of ‘use and throw away’ politics,” Mr. Haque said, inviting the TDP to his side.
Published – 02 Apr 2026 23:25 IST
