Andhra Pradesh will not have three capitals, Reddy withdraws bill

Hyderabad : A bill in regards to three capitals for Andhra Pradesh has been withdrawn by YS Jaganmohan Reddy-led government after facing a bunch of legal hurdles. The Chief Minister, however, said his government would bring a "comprehensive, complete and better" Bill.

"Our intention of a decentralised development of the state has been twisted, distorted and a misinformation launched. Also, legal hurdles were created and court cases filed," the Chief Minister said in the assembly. The 2020 Act is being repealed to protect the larger interests of people, he said.

The Bill was introduced to trifurcate Andhra Pradesh's capital into three – the executive capital at Vizag, legislative capital at Amaravati, judicial capital at Kurnool.

Without naming farmers from Amravati region, who had been protesting for more than 2 years now, JM Reddy said the government would explain its " genuine intention and the need for decentralisation" to all concerned and incorporate necessary changes in the new Bill.

The decision to scrap the Bill has been taken after an emergency cabinet meeting held on Sunday.