Lok Sabha Passes Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 Granting Amaravati Statutory Capital Status

April 1, 2026 : The Lok Sabha has passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which amends the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, to accord statutory status to Amaravati as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh.

Replying to the debate, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai stated that the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly had, on the 28th of last month, passed a resolution urging the Union Government to grant Amaravati formal recognition as the sole capital. He thanked members across parties for supporting the Bill during the discussion.

Supporting the legislation, B. Manickam Tagore of the Congress emphasized that certainty in governance requires a fixed capital. He noted that the bifurcation under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, significantly altered the state’s economic structure.

TDP leader and Union Minister Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said the people of Andhra Pradesh have welcomed the move, highlighting the sacrifices made by farmers who contributed land for the development of Amaravati. He also acknowledged the role of women in supporting the initiative.

BJP member C. M. Ramesh described Amaravati as a “people’s capital” and a “green capital,” stressing that a capital represents not just infrastructure but also governance, identity, and sovereignty.

Opposing the Bill in its current form, P. V. Midhun Reddy of the YSR Congress Party stated that the legislation does not serve the people’s interests. While clarifying that his party is not opposed to Amaravati itself, he said they object to the provisions of the Bill. Members of the YSRCP staged a walkout during the proceedings.

BJP leader D. Purandeswari remarked that following the 2014 bifurcation, Telangana retained Hyderabad while Andhra Pradesh was left without essential administrative infrastructure such as a capital, Assembly, or Secretariat. She contrasted this with earlier state reorganisations during the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, where capitals were allocated to newly formed states, and described the situation in 2014 as a “deep humiliation” for Andhra Pradesh.

Several members participated in the discussion, including G. Kishan Reddy, Shrikant Shinde, Dharmendra Yadav, Arvind Sawant, R. Raghuram Reddy, Mallu Ravi, Vamsi Krishna Gaddam, Pappu Yadav, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, and Appalanaidu Kalisetti.