On the 31st of July, Governor of Andhra Pradesh Biswabhushan Harichandan, gave bis assent to the controversial three capitals bill.
Mr. Harichandan approved A.P., Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) (Repeal) Bill, 2020 and A.P., Decentralization of Development in all Regions Bill, 2020.
On the 17th of December 2019, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (A.P.,) proposed to have Visakhapatnam, Kurnool and Amaravati as the State capitals.
While Visakhapatnam would be the executive capital, Kurnool would be the judiciary capital and Amaravati would be the legislative capital.
Months after several meetings, criticism from opposition and Amaravati farmers protests, the State Governor finally approved the bill.
The two bills were passed to the Governor for approval after the State Legislature approved it. The bills were sent to the Governor’s office on the 18th of July.
The two bills, the AP Decentralisation And Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill, 2020, and the AP Capital Region Development Authority (Repeal) Bill, 2020 were sent to the Governor by the Assembly Secretariat.
While AP Decentralisation Bill is related to the three capitals, the CRDA Repeal Bill, 2020 is regarding abolition of CRDA, created during the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) regime.
With the latest updates, Visakhapatnam would now be the administrative capital, Amaravati the legislative capital and Kurnool the judicial capital.
Meanwhile, several petitions against the decentralisation of A.P., Capitals are pending with the Andhra Pradesh High Court.
On the 23rd of July, the Andhra Pradesh High Court adjourned the hearing of these petitionS to August.
The hearing related to the State capital issue is scheduled on the 6th of August.
The protest against the A.P., capital issue is still continued with the participation of women, farmers, men and other citizens of Amaravati.
Stay tuned for further updates.
