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Andhra Pradesh Government’s decision to make Vijayawada region the capital of residuary State has evoked a mixed response from the people of different districts though political parties largely welcomed the move.
The announcement on new capital, made by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in Assembly, was hailed by the leaders and people of Krishna and other coastal districts.
Cadres of ruling TDP garlanded the statues of the party founder N T Rama Rao and celebrated the moment by distributing sweets and bursting crackers.
However, some student bodies and other outfits held protests in Kurnool and other places in Rayalaseema and also in Visakhapatnam, which too were in the race. A bandh was observed in parts of Rayalaseema in support of their demand that the capital be located in the region.
Demand for locating the capital in north coastal Andhra (Visakhapatnam region) has also been voiced by some outfits.
Main Opposition YSR Congress and BJP, a partner in the TDP-led Government, welcomed the announcement on the floor of the Legislative Assembly. However, the Jaganmohan Reddy-led party found fault with the Government’s approach though he welcomed it.
TDP, BJP and YSR Congress are the only parties which have a representation in the Assembly.
Alleging the TDP Government has adopted a unilateral approach, Congress MLC C Ramachandraiah said a holistic stand taking along Opposition parties should have been taken.
The TDP Government depended on the Centre for many things, including building the state Capital, but the latter has done precious little since it assumed office, he said.
The Lok Satta Party of bureaucrat-turned-politician Jayaprakash Narayan welcomed the decision to locate the capital in Vijayawada region, but demanded that steps be taken for decentralisation of administration.
Lok Satta leader D V V S Varma appealed to the people not to get emotional on the issue of capital city and observe restraint. “People should stand united to achieve development of all regions,” he said.
Meanwhile, speaking in Vijayawada, State BJP General Secretary Shyam Kishore said the NDA government at the Centre is committed to assist in development of the new capital.
“BJP welcomes the decision taken by the Chief Minister on setting up the capital in Vijayawada region,” he said while talking to reporters here.
Since the time of bifurcation, the BJP had been arguing in favour of Vijayawada area as the capital and now an official decision has been taken in this regard, he said.
TDP Member of Parliament from Vijayawada Kesineni Srinivas expressed happiness over the decision.
In a press release, he said Vijayawada was the right choice as it enjoys several geographical advantages over other regions.
Srinivas said about 25,000 acres of forest and other government lands are available around Vijayawada and they can be used to construct buildings to serve as government establishments.
In Visakhapatnam, the news was greeted with mixed feelings with a section of people saying the coastal city has all necessary infrastructure to become a state capital.
Expressing their displeasure over the government “ignoring” the claim of Visakhapatnam, activists of Uttarandhra Development Forum, led by its President L Govindu, staged a “dharna” and burnt an effigy of the Chief Minister.
The Forum has asked educational institutions in three North Andhra districts – Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam – to observe a bandh tomorrow to protest the government’s decision.
Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University G S N Raju hailed the decision but also maintained that Visakhapatnam, too, qualifies for the honour.
“Vizag is best placed to become State capital as it has all necessary infrastructure facilities and is also industrially developed,” he told PTI.
“Visakhapatnam is the biggest city after Hyderabad. It has rail, road, port and air connectivity.”
Congress leader and former legislator Dronamraju Srinivas said, “we have no objection to Vijayawada region as the capital. But the way government has taken the decision is not proper. The matter should have been thoroughly discussed in the Assembly and also at an all-party meet before making an announcement.” (PTI)
