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LS passes bill to recognise Amaravati as Andhra capital
Apr-01-2026

Lok Sabha has passed a Bill seeking to recognise Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh, with the Congress, the BJP as well as the TDP expressing support for it. The Bill, the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation(Amendment) Bill, 2026, was introduced by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai.

The bill intends to amend Section 5 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, which declared Hyderabad as the joint capital for Andhra Pradesh and the then newly formed Telangana, bifurcated from the former territory, for a period not exceeding 10 years. As per Section 5(2), after the expiry of 10 years, Hyderabad shall be the capital of the State of Telangana, and there shall be a new capital for Andhra Pradesh. The 2026 amendment will substitute the words ‘there shall be a new capital’ in Section 5(2) with the words ‘and Amaravati shall be the new capital’.

During the debate, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said the Bill aimed to give effect to an Andhra Pradesh Assembly resolution of March 28 requesting the Union government to incorporate Amaravati as the new capital of Andhra Pradesh. He said it provides statutory clarity regarding the capital of Andhra Pradesh after its bifurcation in 2014.

Congress member Manickam Tagore said the Congress fully supports the legislation but wants according of special status to Andhra Pradesh, which is the successor state of the erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh following the creation of Telangana. 

TDP member and Union Minister of State Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani appealed for unanimous passage of the bill, stating it would ensure a permanent capital for Andhra Pradesh. BJP member C M Ramesh said this was the first time in independent India that Parliament had passed a bill to declare a specific place as a state capital. Ramesh criticised the earlier decision to have three capitals as illogical and irrational, adding that the bill will prevent anyone from changing the capital in future.

However, YSRCP strongly opposed the bill, stating it lacked provisions to protect farmers’ interests and did not specify a timeline for compensation to those whose land was acquired for Amaravati.  Once the bill becomes law, Amaravati will be the capital of Andhra Pradesh effective from June 2, 2024. 


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