The suspense continues on whether Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government in Andhra Pradesh will table a revised Bill for three state Capitals in the Assembly during the ongoing Budget session.

That the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government has not given up its plans despite the recent adverse judgment by the High Court was evident when Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath told the Legislative Council on Monday that the government desires to have three capitals, one in each region, to ensure inclusive and balanced growth.

Replying to a query by some members, he told the house that the state has adopted the policy of decentralisation to take administration close to the citizens. This, he said, will bring the common man into the mainstream of development.

With only three days left for the ongoing Budget session to come to an end, all eyes are on the government to see whether it tables the revised Bill in place of the two Bills repealed last year or keep the matter in abeyance for now to avoid any confrontation with the judiciary.

Assembly Speaker Tammineni Sitaram has already agreed to the demand of YSRCP legislators for a discussion on decentralisation of development. This is likely to be taken up in a day or two.

During the discussion, the government may reiterate its commitment to three capitals policy and reveal how it plans to achieve the same.

A three-member Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on March 3 had directed the government complete the infrastructural development like roads, drinking water, drains, and electricity in the Amaravati Capital Region within a month.

It also ruled that the state legislature lacked competence to make any legislation for shifting, bifurcating, or trifurcating the capital.

The government, however, said it remained committed to its policy of three state capitals and argued that the state legislature has the powers to make a legislation in this regard.

Former minister and YSRCP MLA Dharmana Prasad Rao has even urged Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to convene a special session of the legislature to discuss the “doctrine of separation of powers”.

Municipal Administration Minister Botcha Satyanarayana had recently hinted at reintroduction of the revised Bill but did not give any time-frame.

Claiming that Amaravati capital has no legal sanctity as it was not acknowledged by the Parliament, he said YSRCP government would consider Amaravati as a legislative capital only.

As per the plan announced by YSRCP after coming to power in 2019, Visakhapatnam will be developed as the administrative capital, Kurnool as the judicial capital while Amaravati will only have the legislature.

The Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government had thus reversed the decision of the previous Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government headed by Chandrababu Naidu to develop Amaravati as the only state capital.

The YSRCP government argued that three capitals will ensure decentralisation of development in all three regions of the state – north coastal Andhra, south coastal Andhra, and Rayalaseema.

However, the Jagan government’s move sparked massive protests by farmers in Amaravati, who had surrendered 33,000 acres of land for the development of the state capital. They have been protesting for over 800 days demanding the government to develop Amaravati as the only state capital.

The farmers and other groups opposing trifurcation also approached the High Court.

In a surprising move, the government on November 22, 2021 repealed two laws enacted in 2020 to create three state capitals. The Assembly passed Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of all Regions Repeal Bill 2021.

The Bill repealed the Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of all Regions Act 2020 and the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region development Authority Repeal Act 2020 Act.

The government, however, made it clear that it has not gone back on the decision and will come out with a new comprehensive legislation.

It was a strategic move apparently to plug the loopholes in the bills so that they are not struck down by the court.

A bench of three judges headed by Chief Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra on March 3 pronounced the judgment on 75 petitions challenging three Capitals move.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s ‘political strategy’ behind withdrawal of three capitals has become a subject of heated debate in political circles.

Jagan clearly stated in Legislative Assembly on Monday that his government will come out with a comprehensive bill on three capitals later without specifying any timeframe.

Political analysts see no chances of Jagan bringing new bill on three capitalS in this term till 2024.

Jagan is expected to make fresh moves on three capitals only if he retains power for second term in 2024, they say.

Jagan apparently realised public anger on three capitals and backtracked on it with a fear that it may benefit TDP in 2024 Assembly polls.

Jagan already completed half of his term as CM and he hardly as one and half year term to focus on administration. The last one year will be election year and he cannot take chances on changing capitals at that stage.

Jagan wants to pacify people especially farmers on Amaravathi issue by withdrawing three capitals bill like PM Modi did in the case of farm laws three days ago.

AP CM Jagan announced in the state assembly that the existing bills on 3 capitals are withdrawn by the government and soon the government will come up with the new bill. Details as follows

It is known news that former CM Chandrababu naidu attempted to build Amaravati as the world class capital for the residual state of AP. But after Jagan became the chief minister, he tilted towards the decentralisation of the development, brought forward the concept 3 capitals and repealed CRDA introduced by CBN. But now, Jagan announced in the assembly about taking back the bills introduced by his government.

Jagan’s statement:

Jagan explained in detail about why his government preferred 3 capitals instead of single super capitals like Hyderabad after coming to power. He added that the decision was taken to decentralise the development in state and to ensure all regions, castes and religions will reap the benefits of the state. He also spoke about Sribagh pact (1937) that guaranteed the fruits of development for the Rayalaseema region and how the assurances given in that agreement were diluted later. After giving the historical perspective of the issue of the capital of AP, he moved on to explain why his government is withdrawing the bills.

Jagan admitted that, while taking decision to implement 3 capitals, all the stake holders were not consulted. He also added that the existing bill is not comprehensive and so there are legal issues in implementing 3 capitals. He also spoke of the ongoing propaganda that the 3 capital decision was taken to hurt the prospects of certain social groups.

Then he announced that his government is still committed to the decentralised development of the state and so the government will come up with a better bill to ensure development in all the regions of the state.

Missing items in the Jagan statement:

Jagan’s announcement came as a surprise to the people of AP. Though his statement clarified that he is not in favour of single super capital, he did not clarify whether he will again come with a bill for 3 capitals or a single capital with separate plan for decentralisation of development.

Secondly, he did not pronounce any time line for coming up with a new bill. This will again lead to uncertainty as the government can dilly-dally till the next elections.

Thirdly, Jagan told that the government will have wider consultations now before coming up with a new bill. But he did not state whether a committee will be formed again to decide the question of capital of AP or the government itself will have discussions with pressure groups.

Overall, Jagan’s statement in the assembly led to confusion among the people of AP regarding the capital of the state. We need to wait and see when and how this issue will be resolved completely.