Announcement on Andhra Pradesh capital was deferred by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and is likely to be made in Assembly on September 4.
Keeping in view the fourth death anniversary of late chief minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy to be celebrated by YSRCP on Tuesday, the ruling party preferred to defer the announcement, it is being said. The Chief Minister, who is unlikely to adopt the recommendations of the Sivaramakrishnan Committee on the new capital, was planning otherwise. Naidu is most likely to reveal his mind in the Assembly on September 4, being considered an auspicious date.
Though it was expected that Naidu will reveal his mind in the Assembly that the new capital could be between Vijayawada and Guntur on September 2, he opted other date. As Leader of the Opposition Y S Jaganmohan Reddy was not available in the Assembly and busy celebrating YSR anniversary in Kadapa district, the TDP Government, which invited wrath from the Opposition for failing to give clarity on the new capital, has taken a decision to make an announcement followed by a Telugu Desam Legislature Party meeting after two days. This meeting will prepare ministers to take on the Opposition party’s voice against the government decision.
Agriculture Minister Patthipati Pulla Rao told the media in the Assembly lobbies that the Chief Minister has deferred the announcement on the new capital for an auspicious date. Chandrababu will make an announcement on the capital in the Assembly on September 4, he said. He also said the party was planning to name the capital after former chief minister late Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao. The new capital needs adequate land bank for facilities and infrastructure, he said. Farmers in Krishna district are ready to give about 8,000 acres for the new capital if the Government names the new capital as Tarakarama Nagar on the lines of Gujarat’s capital being Gandhinagar, the minister stated.
It may be noted here that the State government issued a circular to all departments to shift their offices to Vijayawada for time being. The Government which is preparing to shift the key departments to Vijayawada shortly also directed the officials to come up with estimations. The TDP Whip K Ravikumar said Naidu’s announcement was deferred as the Leader of the Opposition was not present in the House on September 1. The TDLP will meet on September 4 and take a final call on the issue, he added. (NSS)
