Lok Sabha passes Bill declaring Amaravati as Andhra Pradesh’s sole capital

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, formally recognising Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh. The legislation was cleared by a voice vote after nearly two hours of debate, with the Congress supporting the move while the YSR Congress Party staged a walkout in protest. The Bill will now be sent to the Rajya Sabha for approval before being forwarded to the President for assent.

The amendment provides statutory backing to Amaravati as the state capital with effect from June 2, 2024, effectively closing the door on any future attempts to alter the decision. The move is aimed at ending years of uncertainty over the state’s capital status following competing proposals, including the earlier three-capital model.

Replying to the debate, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai thanked members for supporting the resolution passed by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly seeking legal recognition for Amaravati. During discussions, Congress leader Manickam Tagore backed the Bill while reiterating the demand for special category status for the state and calling for balanced regional development across cities such as Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Kurnool.

The Bill follows a policy reversal by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who reaffirmed Amaravati as the sole capital after returning to power in 2024. His predecessor, Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, had earlier proposed a three-capital model with administrative, legislative and judicial functions distributed across different cities, a plan that drew both support and criticism.

Opposing the legislation, YSRCP members raised concerns over unresolved issues related to farmers who had pooled nearly 34,000 acres of land for the capital project. They demanded a clear timeline for compensation and questioned the financial viability of developing Amaravati at such a scale, arguing that the Bill lacked adequate safeguards for affected stakeholders.