At long last, Amaravati has gained legal status as the capital of Andhra Pradesh. While this milestone should be a moment of celebration for over five crore people, the joy is muted—not just because of the ongoing debates between the government and the opposition, but also because it’s the culmination of a struggle that began when Andhra Pradesh became the only state to be born without a capital. Over the last 73 years, the people of the region have transitioned through three capitals technically and four mentally, with Amaravati set to be the fifth following the President’s assent.
While the Bill was being discussed in the Lok Sabha, former Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy even proposed an alternative, MAVIGUN—merging Machilipatnam, Vijayawada and Guntur—while arguing that the Constitution makes no explicit provision for a state capital. While it’s true that the Constitution does not grant recognition to any city as a capital, the seat of governance is indirectly established through Article 174, which empowers the Governor to decide where Assembly sessions are held, and Articles 214 and 231, which govern the establishment of high courts. While the Centre has repeatedly affirmed the state’s authority in deciding the capital, the legal and political tug-of-war has persisted for a decade.
Following bifurcation in 2014, the Union-appointed Sivaramakrishnan Committee warned against building a megalopolis between Vijayawada and Guntur, instead proposing decentralisation, the state government moved ahead with Amaravati and the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone on October 22, 2015. However, a new administration in 2019 proposed a ‘Three Capitals’ model involving Amaravati, Visakhapatnam and Kurnool, effectively stalling Amaravati’s growth and leading to a five-year struggle for the farmers who had offered land for the city’s construction.
This protracted uncertainty deprived the state of a primary growth engine, stifling investment and forcing citizens to continue travelling to Hyderabad, Chennai or Bengaluru for healthcare, education and employment. With the 2024 change in leadership and subsequent legislation, the construction of Amaravati has found renewed momentum. The permanent legal status will uphold Telugu self-respect and finally bring home the families of thousands of state officials currently residing in Hyderabad.
Something Amarajeevi Potti Sreeramulu wrote in September 1952 underlines the commitment required even today: “[The Andhra state] has become a home for many people, many parties, many opinions and many ideas. Everyone’s self-interest is different... Unless everyone thinks with a selfless vision, they cannot reach a consensus.”