The YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government on Monday stirred up a new row, saying Hyderabad is the capital of Andhra Pradesh till 2024. The principal opposition Telugu Desam Party launched a counter-offensive asking the ruling party to shift base to Hyderabad and rule from there if it is the state capital. The row comes in the backdrop of the March 3 verdict of the AP High Court that said the state Legislature 'lacked competence' to make any legislation for shifting, bifurcating or trifurcating the capital.
Triggering the fresh controversy, Municipal Administration Minister Botsa Satyanarayana maintained that till 2024 our capital is Hyderabad only as per the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014. “This is a debatable subject. As per APRA, 2014, Hyderabad is the common capital. This is known to all the court, Parliament and the Assembly,” Botsa told reporters.
He claimed that the previous Chandrababu Naidu regime did not secure Parliament or the Union government’s approval for Amaravati as the state capital. “They (TDP government) hurriedly declared Amaravati as the capital. Have they sent the resolution to New Delhi and secure approval (of Parliament)? Did the establishment of capital happen in a legal manner? No,” the Minister pointed out.
The court, he observed, might have commented on the capital based on that only. He said the capital would be recognised only when a decision was taken (by the state) and Parliament's approval secured. That's my personal view, he added. Replying to a question, the minister said, “As per our government's thought and party policy, Amaravati was now the legislative capital of the state.”
Reacting sharply to this, TDP state president K Atchannaidu asked the Jagan regime to go to Hyderabad and rule AP from there. “We wanted to rule from the state. We faced many troubles and started building a capital. If you say Hyderabad is the capital, go there and rule,” Atchannaidu said.
He mocked the Chief Minister saying he left nothing for AP in Hyderabad. “You have surrendered everything (to the Telangana government). There is nothing left for us there. There is not even a building. Go and rule from under the trees,” Atchannaidu said.