New Delhi, April 1, 2026: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, formally recognising Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh.
The bill, introduced by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, was passed by a voice vote after a brief discussion. It amends Section 5(2) of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, replacing the phrase “and there shall be a new capital” with “and Amaravati shall be the new capital.” The amendment is deemed to have come into force retrospectively from June 2, 2024.
# Background and Political Context
This legislative move follows a unanimous resolution passed by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on March 28, 2026, urging the Centre to grant statutory status to Amaravati as the state’s lone capital. The TDP-led NDA government under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has prioritised the development of Amaravati as a greenfield capital city since returning to power in 2024.
The 2014 Reorganisation Act, which bifurcated the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh to create Telangana, had left the location of Andhra Pradesh’s permanent capital unspecified, designating Hyderabad as a common capital for ten years. Successive governments took differing approaches: the TDP initially developed Amaravati as the capital, while the previous YSRCP government under Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy proposed a decentralised model with three capitals — Amaravati (legislative), Visakhapatnam (executive), and Kurnool (judicial). The new bill ends this ambiguity and provides legal certainty for ongoing infrastructure projects in Amaravati.
# Reactions and Support
The bill received support from the BJP, TDP, and Congress during the proceedings. It is seen as fulfilling a key demand of the TDP, a crucial NDA ally. Chief Minister Naidu’s office described the development as giving “statutory clarity” to the state’s efforts to build a world-class capital.
Opposition leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has questioned the push for a single capital, but reports suggest the YSRCP’s stance in Parliament remains under watch. The bill is expected to be taken up in the Rajya Sabha shortly, where it is also likely to pass with relative ease given the numbers.
# Significance
Officials and proponents argue that declaring Amaravati as the sole capital will boost investor confidence, accelerate development in the region, and prevent future legal or political challenges to the capital project. The move is expected to facilitate greater central and private investment in infrastructure, including roads, buildings, and urban amenities in the planned capital city located between Vijayawada and Guntur.
The passage marks a significant political victory for the Chandrababu Naidu government and brings closure to years of uncertainty surrounding Andhra Pradesh’s capital since the 2014 bifurcation.
The bill now awaits consideration in the Rajya Sabha before it receives presidential assent and becomes law.
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