Former Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu, has requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah to introduce a Bill in the current Parliament session to grant legal recognition to Andhra Pradesh’s capital, Amaravati. Naidu highlighted the state Assembly’s resolution urging the Centre to amend the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act 2014 to formalize the status of the capital. He emphasized the importance of passing the Bill to avoid future uncertainties regarding Amaravati’s position as the state capital.
During a conversation with Amit Shah, Naidu reminisced about the time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi, then the Union Urban Development Minister, laid the foundation stone for Amaravati. He also acknowledged the support provided by the Centre for the development of the state capital. Naidu underscored the need for legal protection for Amaravati, especially in light of the challenges faced by the city since 2019.
Amit Shah reportedly responded positively to Naidu’s proposal, indicating that the Union Home Ministry has completed the necessary groundwork. Once the Union Cabinet approves the Bill, it will be presented in Parliament for consideration. Recently, the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly convened a special session to pass a resolution urging the Central government to designate Amaravati as the sole capital city of the state. The resolution included specific recommendations for amending the AP Reorganisation Act 2014 to define Amaravati’s boundaries and status clearly.
Assembly Speaker Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu forwarded the resolution to key officials, including the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Union Home Minister, and the Chief Secretary of the State government, emphasizing the importance of securing legal recognition for Amaravati as the capital city.
