Amaravati To Be Sole Capital Of Andhra Pradesh, Says CM Chandrababu Naidu
Naidu revealed the decision while speaking at a combined gathering of TDP, BJP, and Janasena lawmakers.
A day prior to being sworn in as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu declared on Tuesday that Amaravati would serve as the sole capital of the state. Naidu revealed this decision while speaking at a combined gathering of TDP, BJP, and Janasena lawmakers, during which he was unanimously chosen as the NDA leader in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
“In our government, there will be no games under the guise of three capitals. Our capital is Amaravati. Amaravati is the capital,” said Naidu.
Serving as the first chief minister of the divided Andhra Pradesh from 2014 to 2019, Naidu proposed Amaravati as the capital. Nonetheless, his vision faced a setback in 2019 as the TDP lost control of the state and YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSRCP secured a significant win.
Reddy poured cold water on the Amaravati capital city plans and propounded a new theory of three capitals, which Naidu has now replaced with the decision to have a single capital.
The NDA alliance of TDP, BJP and Janasena won a landslide victory in the recently concluded simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the state, with a brute majority of 164 assembly and 21 Lok Sabha seats.
The triumph has breathed new life into the Amaravati capital city project, which is also expected to draw financial assistance from the new Union government as Naidu's TDP is one of the key allies of the NDA.
New Andhra Government Soon
Leaders of the NDA comprising TDP, BJP and Janasena would meet Governor S Abdul Nazeer and stake claim to form a government. There could be an invitation from the Governor to form the government by Tuesday evening.
Along with Naidu, some more leaders are likely to swear-in, who could include TDP general secretary and Naidu's son Nara Lokesh and Janasena leader N Manohar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other dignitaries are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
Naidu first became the chief minister in 1995 and went on to have another two terms. His first two terms as chief minister were at the helm of united Andhra Pradesh, beginning in 1995 and ending in 2004, nine years at a stretch while the third term came post-bifurcation of the state.
(With inputs from PTI)
