The AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill, 2020, also provides for dividing the state into various zones and establishing zonal planning and development boards.
The ruling YSR government plans to set up a legislative capital in Amaravati, executive/secretariat in Visakhapatnam and judicial in Kurnool.
While the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government has been firm on carrying out its new plans for "comprehensive, parallel and decentralised development, other political parties and citizens at large have opposed the ruling YSR Congress' move to relocate the state capital from Amaravati to Visakhapatnam, as already indicated by the Chief Minister on the floor of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly on December 17.
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How the government is seeking to go ahead with its plans remains a closely-guarded secret but, given any opportunity, the principal opposition Telugu Desam Party is determined to derail the process by showing its strength in the Legislative Council.
Ever since Jagan announced plans to have three capitals on December 17, opposition parties and farmers groups have opposed plans to shift the executive capital from Amaravati. Ahead of the cabinet meeting today, several TDP leaders were taken into preventive custody in Amaravati, Vijayawada, and Guntur. TDP workers and farmers protesting the government decision were prevented from organising protests in the 29 villages in Amaravati leading to tension.
Chief Minister Reddy convoy took a different route to avoid the protesters in Amravati and security has been tightened. Heavy police deployment was reported in Amaravati.
After the Assembly, the proposal on the capital issue will move to the Legislative Council. The ruling YSRCP is likely to have a tough time in the state Legislative Council, where it has just nine seats in the 58-member body. The TDP, with the support of the BJP and other parties, could stall any legislation to provide for three capitals, temporarily. However, Jagan could opt to push through his plan via a money bill.
The cabinet may also decide to scrap the AP Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) which was formed by the previous TDP regime to oversee the development of Amaravati as the new capital. The YSRCP government will likely bring in Vijayawada and Guntur development authority which will be tasked with developing the region between the two cities.
The government also plans to do away with the 58-member AP Legislative Council where the YSRCP is in minority, with just nine seats. With 29 members, and possible support of BJP and others, the TDP in the Council has blocked at least 35 Bills passed by the Assembly. The Council formed in 1958 was abolished by TDP founder N T Rama Rao in 1985 after Congress blocked all his decisions. It was restored in 2007 by former chief minister and Jagan Reddy father late Dr Y S Rajashekara Reddy.