Amaravati Officially Declared as Andhra Pradesh's Sole Capital: What This Means for the State

In a landmark decision, the Lok Sabha has unanimously passed a Bill to officially recognize Amaravati as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh. This legislative move aims to amend the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014, solidifying Amaravati's status. The Bill received support from various political parties, although the YSR Congress Party opposed it. Key discussions highlighted the historical significance of Amaravati and the implications of the state's bifurcation. This decision comes after a period of uncertainty regarding the capital, raising questions about the future of governance in Andhra Pradesh. Read on to discover the full implications of this pivotal legislative action.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 1, 2026, 17:20 IST

Historic Legislative Decision

New Delhi: On Wednesday, the Lok Sabha passed a significant Bill that officially recognizes Amaravati as the exclusive capital of Andhra Pradesh.

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, received unanimous support through a voice vote after a two-hour debate, with backing from various parties including the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Congress, and the Samajwadi Party.

During the discussion, Dharmendra Yadav from the Samajwadi Party expressed his support but suggested that developing Visakhapatnam as the capital could have avoided land acquisition from farmers and saved substantial funds.

In contrast, members of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) walked out in protest against the Bill's current form.

This legislative action seeks to amend the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014, solidifying Amaravati's status as the capital.

The amendment modifies Section 5 of the original Act, replacing the term 'a new capital' with 'Amaravati shall be the new capital,' thus firmly establishing Amaravati within the legal framework.

This move follows a unanimous resolution from the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on March 28, which paved the way for the Bill's introduction in Parliament.

According to the Bill's explanation, 'Amaravati' encompasses the capital city areas designated under the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority Act of 2014.

Members from TDP, BJP, and Jana Sena, who are part of the NDA government in Andhra Pradesh, strongly supported the Bill.

Key figures such as Minister of State for Rural Development and Communication, Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, TDP MP Appalanaidu, BJP MPs C.M. Ramesh and Daggubati Purandeswari, along with Jana Sena MP Vallabhaneni Balashowry, voiced their support for Amaravati as the capital.

The Bill also garnered support from Congress, the Samajwadi Party, the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar), both factions of Shiv Sena, and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

During the debate, BJP member Daggubati Purandeswari highlighted Amaravati's spiritual and historical significance as a reason for its selection as the state capital.

She pointed out that while Telangana had Hyderabad as a ready and recognized capital, Andhra Pradesh was left without one.

Purandeswari described February 8, 2014, as a dark day in India's parliamentary history, criticizing the rushed bifurcation of the state without adequate discussion.

She accused the previous UPA government of pursuing political gains through the bifurcation, which left Andhra Pradesh without a capital.

She emphasized that Amaravati would be remembered as the first capital built by the people, not through coercion but through belief.

The state has faced significant uncertainty regarding its capital from 2019 to 2024, and she criticized the YSRCP government's decision to establish multiple capitals as reckless.

Congress member Raghuram Reddy from Telangana raised concerns about unfulfilled promises made to Telangana in the 2014 Reorganisation Act.