Jagan’s ‘MAVIGUN’ plan a new political drama, says Agriculture Minister Atchannaidu

Former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had destroyed the Amaravati capital project when he was in power, Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu alleged on Saturday.

Addressing the media at the TDP headquarters in Mangalagiri, Mr. Atchannaidu said the NDA government headed by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu accorded priority to the capital project, and the State was witnessing celebrations over its revival.

He alleged that while there was a broad consensus on Amaravati in the Legislative Assembly in 2014, the YSRCP opposed it later out of political vendetta.

Mr. Atchannaidu said that Mr. Naidu had taken an inclusive approach in selecting the capital city, consulting all political parties and legislators to ensure balanced regional development. He recalled that Amaravati was envisioned as a self-financed project, with around 29,000 farmers voluntarily parting with nearly 34,000 acres of land.

Criticising the three-capital proposal of Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Agriculture Minister alleged that it was aimed at driving a wedge between the regions of the State and stall development. Had the previous government continued the capital development works, Amaravati would have been ready by now, he said, adding that allegations of corruption in Amaravati were not proven.

“And now, the YSRCP president has started another political drama by mooting the ‘MAVIGUN’ (Machilipatnam-Vijayawada-Guntur) corridor proposal as an alternative to the capital,” the Minister said.

He further stated that within 18 months of the coalition government taking office, capital works were back on track. Reaffirming Amaravati as the State’s future capital, he said its development would drive growth across all the regions.

Ministers B.C. Janardhan Reddy (R&B) and Anagani Satya Prasad (Revenue) were present.