Lok Sabha passes Bill recognising Amaravati as sole capital of Andhra Pradesh

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday (April 1, 2026) passed a Bill to recognise Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh, with the principal Opposition party Congress extending support to the legislation. The YSR Congress Party – which had earlier proposed a three-capital plan for the State – walked out in protest.

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was passed by a voice vote after a nearly two-hour debate. It will now be sent to the Rajya Sabha, and then to the President for assent.

Once enacted, it will give statutory backing to Amaravati as the State’s capital with effect from June 2, 2024, effectively foreclosing any future attempt to alter the decision.

Parliament Budget Session Highlights on April 1, 2026

Replying to the debate, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai thanked members for supporting a resolution adopted by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly seeking legal recognition for Amaravati as the capital.

Initiating the discussion, Congress member Manickam Tagore said his party supported the Bill but reiterated the demand for special category status for the State. “Let Amaravati develop like Bengaluru, Chennai or Hyderabad. At the same time, cities such as Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, and Kurnool must also grow,” he said.

During his tenure as Chief Minister, YSRCP leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, had proposed a three-capital model for the State — administrative capital at Visakhapatnam, legislative capital at Amaravati, and judicial capital at Kurnool. After returning to power in 2024, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reversed the plan and reiterated that Amaravati would be the State’s sole capital.

Participating in the debate, TDP member and Union Minister of State Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani urged the House to pass the Bill unanimously, saying it would end the uncertainty over the State’s capital.

Supporting the legislation, BJP member C.M. Ramesh said it was perhaps the first instance of Parliament enacting a law to formally declare a specific location as a State capital. The earlier proposal for three capitals, he said, was “illogical and irrational”.

Compensate farmers: YSRCP

The YSRCP, however, opposed the measure, arguing that the interests of farmers who had parted with land for the capital project remained unaddressed. Party member P.V. Midhun Reddy said nearly 34,000 acres had been pooled for the Amaravati capital project, with assurances of developed plots, housing, and education benefits for affected families.

“Give a clear timeline for compensating the farmers and incorporate it in the Bill. Otherwise it has little meaning,” he said, also questioning the financial viability of developing such a large capital city.

According to the Bill, the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, had stipulated that Hyderabad would be the common capital of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana for a period not exceeding 10 years after the State’s bifurcation. The amendment seeks to formally incorporate Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh from June 2, 2024, in line with a resolution passed by the State Assembly on March 28.