When Andhra area was separated from Tamil Nadu, Vijayawada was first proposed as the centrally located Capital City. But the then Reddy leaders convinced their Congress High Command to make Kurnool as Capital because Communists (mostly Kammas) were dominant in Vijayawada area. For obvious reasons, no strong sentiment or agitation came up at that time in favour of Vijayawada. But now, multiple sentiments are coming up around Amaravati Capital. The very name carries lot of geopolitical significance for centuries. It was Capital City for different kingdoms in history and strategically located on the Krishna river. Amaravati has got devotional sentiment with pilgrims coming from far off places. Its spiritual significance is well known for Andhra Telugus. The place is revered by both the Hindus and the Buddhists. Moreover, Amaravati acted as a cultural centre for the people of the region especially the Krishna and Guntur districts.

Obviously, the JAC and opposition leaders are banking on this rising Amaravati sentiment to go ahead with their anti-Capital shifting agitation. This is rallying together all opposition parties including the ruling BJP at the Centre. The Hindu religious organisations and sadhus are also joining the Amaravati agitation. Will it be easy for CM Jagan to erase Amaravati Capital from the map? Things look tougher with each passing day going by massive support to Amaravati JAC from all sides.

In just four years, the Amaravati Capital City project has created an unimaginably huge commercial value for lands in a radius of nearly 40 to 50 sq kms. At that time, the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) allotted 1,293 acres to 130 private and government institutions. They are investing Rs. 44,300 Cr to construct their buildings and begin their operations. They are creating jobs for 50,000 people there. Already, SRM and VIT have constructed their own huge buildings. So much economic potential is generated in just over 1,000 acres. Then, one can imagine the lakhs of crores investments that would come once Amaravati is completed. There would be much greater potential for over 10,000 acres of government lands also.

The more difficult issue here is how the Jaganmohan Reddy government will solve the problems of these 130 institutions. If the Capital is shifted, their lands will not be developed with basic facilities like roads. There would not be suitable commercial value for their properties. SRM and VIT would have to become ghost institutions with huge campuses in the midst of unpopulated, waste lands. Who will compensate for their future losses? YCP Ministers would have to give answers for this. It would be easy to say that not a brick is laid and Amaravati is developed as a real estate venture for a caste. But it would surely be very difficult to shift a Capital City without caring for the people’s feelings.

The North Andhra YCP leaders are fixed that Vizag is the new AP Capital. But, to their utter dismay, the anti-Vizag Capital agitation is reaching a peak in all other parts of the state. The Amaravati JAC is beginning anti-Capital shifting agitation even in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts. The TDP, Jana Sena and BJP leaders are convinced that even Vizag people are unhappy over 3 Capitals. They are openly saying that the Pulivendula YSR loyalists mafia would loot and grab lands and properties in North Andhra. The average people in Vizag are not socio-politically strong like the people in Guntur and Krishna districts to counter Kadapa gangs.

There are new doubts whether CM Jagan Reddy could be able to shift Capital in the face of all-round opposition and his own Rs 43,000 Cr CBI cases. As a last resort, North Andhra YCP leaders are now threatening to launch a pro-Vizag Capital agitation. Their conviction is that the people are fixed that their region got a golden opportunity. They are not ready to lose this ‘One Chance’ that Jagan Reddy has given them. Speaker Tammineni Sitaram and Minister Avanti Srinivas are provoking regional feelings to discredit TDP in their region. But, the TDP leaders are boldly saying that their anti-Vizag Capital agitation will be continued in Vizag itself. No doubt, utter confusion of multiple agitations is sweeping North Andhra people ahead of local body elections.

CM Jaganmohan Reddy and Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy used to mock at Chandrababu Naidu for pushing AP into RBI overdraft situation several times. Their main criticism was to highlight how Naidu mismanaged financial situation and pushed the state into debts. In the last seven months of his rule, Jagan Reddy did not go for overdraft despite the most difficult of financial distress. But for the sake of ‘Ammavadi’ Cash transfers, CM Jagan is forced to break his rule. He is in no position to say no to RBI overdraft any more because of the latest complications. Now, the AP finance department officials have asked for Rs. 3,000 Cr overdraft from RBI so as to pay ‘Ammavadi’ beneficiaries immediately.

Actually, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman has showed kindness and gave approval to AP for taking loans Rs. 7,428 Cr from the open market. As this came after lot of delay, AP is unable to immediately mobilise this money for Ammavadi which is already delayed. Now, the AP government is going to pay Ammavadi benefit of Rs. 15,000 in batches. It has been a Navaratnalu promise made by Jagan Reddy to give cash to mothers to send their children to schools. The government aims at benefitting nearly 45 lakh mothers. Rivals say that Jagan is not able to fully implement a single promise of Navaratnalu. Anyhow, Jagan Circar is getting ready to borrow huge loans for Cash Transfer, non-productive schemes at Rs. 8.5 interests and above from open market.