LS: YSRCP terms Amaravati Bill 'hopeless'

YSR Congress Party staged a walkout from the Lok Sabha during the debate on the Bill to give statutory status to Amaravati as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh, terming it as "hopeless" for the people of the state.

While making it clear that they are not against Amaravati, YSRCP leader P.V. Midhun Reddy said the party was opposing the Bill in its present form.

He stated that merely naming the capital would serve no purpose and wanted the government to protect the interests of farmers who have given their lands for the development of the state capital.

Earlier, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai introduced the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2026.

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, will be amended to recognise Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh.

The YSRCP leader demanded that the government specify the funds to be spent on building the state capital, the extent of land on which it will come up and also the timeline.

Stating that none of the 29,000 farmers who have given 34,000 acres of land received developed plots and other benefits promised by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in the seven years of his rule, he said the Bill should address the concerns of farmers.

He also questioned the need for acquiring more land in Amaravati when the government already has 54,000 acres for the capital. “Do you want to build a state capital bigger than Kolkata?” he asked.

Midhun Reddy reiterated the allegations of insider trading in Amaravati. He said that after assuming office as the Chief Minister in 2014, Chandrababu Naidu had announced that Tiruvuru would be developed as the state capital, but after he and those close to him purchased lands in Amaravati at low prices, he declared that Amaravati would be the capital.

The YSRCP member also alleged that the Chandrababu Naidu government’s focus on Amaravati was because of the big money involved in contracts. He cited the inflated rates for the development of ministers’ quarters and other buildings.