Bringing long-awaited clarity to Andhra Pradesh’s capital debate, the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 by voice vote.
The legislation formally recognises Amaravati as the state’s only and permanent capital, amending the 2014 Reorganisation Act to remove any legal ambiguity.
The bill, moved by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai, substitutes the generic reference to a ‘new capital’ in Section 5 of the original Act with the specific name ‘Amaravati.’ It also adds an explanation affirming that Amaravati has been identified and notified as the capital following due process. Once it receives presidential assent and becomes law, the change will take retrospective effect from June 2, 2024 – the day the current government assumed office.
Political context
The move follows a unanimous resolution passed by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on March 28, 2026, urging the Centre to grant statutory status to Amaravati.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP-led NDA government has consistently maintained that Amaravati would serve as the single capital, reversing the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) administration’s ‘three capitals’ policy. That policy had proposed Amaravati as the legislative capital, Visakhapatnam as the executive headquarters, and Kurnool as the judicial centre.
During the brief debate in the Lok Sabha, the bill received support from the BJP, Congress, TDP, and other parties. The YSRCP members staged a walkout in protest, arguing that while they were not opposed to Amaravati itself, they had reservations about the form and content of the legislation.
Supporters lauded the bill as fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Andhra Pradesh and providing the necessary legal certainty for large-scale development in the greenfield capital city.
Significance for development and stability
Officials and ruling party leaders hailed the passage as a historic step that ends years of uncertainty. The capital row had reportedly stalled major infrastructure projects, affected land pooling agreements with farmers, and created hesitation in potential investors, since the state’s bifurcation in 2014.
With statutory backing now in place, the state government expects accelerated progress on pending works in Amaravati, including government buildings, roads, and urban infrastructure.
CM Chandrababu Naidu welcomed the development, stating it reflects the will of the people and strengthens the foundation for a developed Andhra Pradesh. Union Minister and TDP leader Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar called it a ‘watershed moment’ that removes structural uncertainty and paves the way for focused growth.
The bill is expected to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha shortly. Once cleared by both houses and assented to by the President, it will provide ironclad legal protection against future attempts to alter Amaravati’s status as the sole capital.
This parliamentary action marks the culmination of a prolonged political and legal journey that began with the state’s formation and reflects the current government’s commitment to a unified capital model. For farmers who contributed land through the pooling system and residents awaiting full development of the city, the decision brings renewed hope for stability and progress.