IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh was addressing a special session of the Assembly in Amaravati on Saturday. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy must answer whether he is for Amaravati as the lone and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh or not, demanded IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh on Saturday, setting the tone for a charged debate in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on a resolution seeking changes to the AP Reorganization Act. He was referring to the three-capital proposal that was mooted during the YSRCP tenure.
The special session, attended only by NDA members as the YSRCP boycotted the proceedings, underscored the coalition’s resolve to seek the legal status of Amaravati as the state’s permanent capital.
“This is not just a movement but history in the making. We must pay our respects to the farmers of Amaravati whose sacrifice has made this House possible,” Mr Lokesh said.
Referring to the three-capital proposal, he accused the previous YSRCP regime of failing to keep its promise and demanded that the party apologize to farmers.
He alleged that the YSRCP leaders, including Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy, had deliberately remained absent from the House for this crucial debate and that they were answerable to the public.
Recalling the turmoil during the tri-capital bill, Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu said, “We witnessed a dark day in the Legislative Council. The state suffered from the absence of a capital after bifurcation. Had we been elected to power in 2019, Amaravati would not have been destroyed,” he said.
Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar said the resolution would remove “technical hurdles in the Reorganization Act”. “It is not for one region but for the entire state,” he said, stressing the need for collective leadership to build Amaravati as a global city.
Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav said, “It is also a happy and unfortunate day. After 12 years, we are once again debating the legal status due to the destruction that happened in the past. I am sure that Amaravati will emerge as a growth engine with strong support from the Centre.”
Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav accused the previous YSRCP government of creating confusion. “The three capitals policy has driven investment out of Sate. Amaravati will be redeveloped as the economic engine of the state,” he said.
Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha highlighted the struggle of farmers, especially women, saying, “The Amaravati movement is one of the biggest since independence” and dedicated the resolution to their sacrifices.
Minister S. Savitha felicitated the farmers who gave away 34,000 acres for the capital city project. She accused the previous regime of ruining the state with its three-capital plan.
The assembly forwarded the resolution to the center and strengthened the position of Amaravati as the lone capital of Andhra Pradesh.
Published – 28 March 2026 21:15 IST
