Andhra minister Lokesh meets President Murmu, thanks her for approving Amaravati Bill
New Delhi, April 13
Andhra Pradesh Minister for Human Resources Development Nara Lokesh, along with NDA MPs from the state called on President Droupadi Murmu here on Monday to thank for approving the Bill passed by the Parliament to give statutory recognition to Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of the state.
Minister Lokesh said on social media platform X that it was a privilege to meet President Murmu and convey the heartfelt gratitude of crores of people of Andhra Pradesh for approving the Bill that notifies Amaravati as the state capital.
Nara Lokesh, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) General Secretary, noted that President Murmu graciously acknowledged the extraordinary resilience and sacrifice of our farmers, and the steadfast leadership of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in bringing long-awaited clarity on the state capital.
"I also had the honour of presenting her (President Droupadi Murmu) a coffee table book that captures Amaravati's journey and the inspiring story of our farmers' struggle," Minister Lokesh, who is also the son of Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, said.
"A delegation from Andhra Pradesh, comprising Union Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma, Andhra Pradesh Minister of Education and IT Nara Lokesh, and Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha members of the state, called on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan," a social media post from the official X account of the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.
President Murmu on April 6 gave her assent to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which was passed by the Parliament.
The same day the Union government issued a gazette notification, giving Amaravati the statutory status as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh.
The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2026, amended the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014.
The Parliament on April 2 gave its final approval to the Amendment Bill, officially designating Amaravati.
The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill through a voice vote, a day after the Lok Sabha cleared it.
After the Parliament passed the Bill, Minister Lokesh along with NDA MPs had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to thank him.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As someone who has followed this issue, it's heartening to see the farmers' sacrifices being acknowledged. The coffee table book is a nice touch to preserve their story. Hope this decision leads to tangible development on the ground now.
Good move. A single capital is crucial for administrative efficiency and attracting investment. The three-capital idea was confusing and wasteful. Let's hope the focus now shifts entirely to building a world-class Amaravati.
While I welcome the clarity, I sincerely hope the government remembers the promise of balanced regional development across all parts of Andhra. A permanent capital shouldn't mean neglecting Rayalaseema and North Coastal Andhra. The focus must be on the entire state's growth.
Jai Andhra! This is a historic day. The resilience of our farmers who gave up their land with hope has finally been honoured. President Murmu and the central government have done the right thing. Time for accelerated development!
Interesting to see the political dynamics. Meeting both the PM and the President shows this was a coordinated effort. The bill passing via voice vote suggests broad consensus, which is good for such a fundamental issue.
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