Will Hyderabad be the Answer? AP’s Capital Conundrum Heats Up with Last-Minute Twist

Visakhpatnam: Andhra Pradesh’s capital conundrum continues as the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) introduces a new twist just weeks before elections. Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy‘s uncle and YSRCP leader, Y.V. Subba Reddy, suggested that Hyderabad should remain the joint capital for both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana until the former establishes its own capital. This statement is perceived as a strategic move to deflect criticism from the opposition, particularly the TDP-Jana Sena alliance, which has been attacking Jagan’s government for the prolonged absence of a state capital.

The initial plan for three capitals—Visakhapatnam as administrative, Kurnool as judicial, and Amaravati as legislative—has faced legal challenges, primarily from Amaravati farmers who gave land for the capital. Despite the government’s efforts to shift some offices to Visakhapatnam, the issue remains entangled in legal disputes, with the larger matter unlikely to be heard in the Supreme Court before April.

The current suggestion to retain Hyderabad as a joint capital beyond the stipulated deadline of June 2, 2024, has divided opinions within YSRCP. Education Minister Botsa Satyanarayana disagrees with Subba Reddy, stating the impracticality of continuing Hyderabad as a joint capital. Opposition leaders, especially Chandrababu Naidu of TDP, seized the opportunity to criticize Jagan’s changing stance on the capital issue.

However, critics argue that Subba Reddy’s statement is an attempt to divert attention and create a new debate in light of upcoming elections. Y.S. Sharmila, head of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee, accuses YSRCP of using the Hyderabad issue to mask its failures.

The larger legal battle involves the High Court’s stay on the government’s plan to shift the chief minister’s office to Visakhapatnam and the Supreme Court’s stay on the High Court’s directive to develop Amaravati. The Supreme Court is expected to comprehensively hear arguments in April. The capital quandary, entwined with legal complexities and political maneuvers, remains a significant issue impacting the Andhra Pradesh political landscape.