It seems the YSRCP has once again shifted into reverse gear over the Andhra Pradesh capital issue. On Friday, at a program held in Vijayawada, Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, considered the mouthpiece of former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy, made key comments on Amaravati. He said that if YSRCP comes back to power in the next elections, Jagan Mohan Reddy will govern from Amaravati itself. This has now become a hot topic across Andhra Pradesh. When Jagan Mohan Reddy built his house in Tadepalli, YSRCP leaders used to say that since their leader had a house there, there was no question of shifting the capital, unlike Chandrababu who did not have a house in Amaravati. But once YSRCP came to power, the slogan of three capitals was brought forward. As a result, neither did Amaravati take shape, nor did the three capitals materialize.
It is well known that even before the 2019 elections, then CM Chandrababu Naidu repeatedly warned during election campaigns that if Jagan came to power, he would change the capital from Amaravati. In response, before the elections, during the YSRCP plenary, Jagan in his own style tried to clarify that the capital would remain in the Vijayawada–Guntur region. Even in the Assembly, he had said he did not want to create disputes between regions, and accepted Amaravati as the capital. Now, with the TDP back in power for the second time, massive contracts worth several thousand crores have been given out for works in Amaravati, with plans to complete them in the next three years. In this context, Sajjala’s comment that if Jagan comes to power again, he would not go to Vizag but continue ruling from here has gained significance. However, debate is on as to whether this was a genuine statement or another politically motivated declaration like those made before past elections.
On one hand, the coalition government is preparing to spend nearly ₹50,000 crores for new buildings and infrastructure in Amaravati. On the other hand, Sajjala is now saying that there is no need for new buildings in Amaravati, that the existing ones are enough, and only some necessary buildings between Vijayawada and Guntur would suffice. A YSRCP leader also revealed that even if the party comes back to power in the next elections or in another term, Jagan may not move into the new buildings now under construction, just like before. It is recalled that while he was CM, Jagan not only pushed for changing the capital but also publicly stated several times that he would shift his family to Vizag. Now that YSRCP is out of power, it appears they have bid goodbye to that slogan. Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy’s latest remarks have made this clear, according to political circles. Meanwhile, his comments on the capital issue have drawn sharp criticism from Minister Narayana and ruling TDP leaders.