A day before his swearing-in ceremony as Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu confirmed on Tuesday that Amaravati would be the capital of the state. “Amaravati will be the capital…We will aim to develop the entire state, not just a few places,” Naidu asserted.
During the NDA legislative Party meeting held at Vijayawada, Naidu was unanimously elected as the alliance’s leader of the House. Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief K. Pawan Kalyan proposed Naidu’s name, which was supported by BJP state president and newly elected MP D. Purandeswari.
The NDA, comprising BJP, TDP and JSP in Andhra, achieved a comprehensive victory over the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in the simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Criticising former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who had proposed Visakhapatnam as the administrative capital, Naidu noted that voters rejected Reddy’s plan by handing defeat to YSRCP in Visakhapatnam.
Eariler, Reddy had suggested a model of decentralised development with Amaravati as the legislative capital, Visakhapatnam as the administrative capital, and Kurnool as the judicial capital.
He also said those who committed crimes during the previous regime would face the law. At Tuesday’s meeting, Naidu stated, “We will function democratically and secularly and no one’s self respect will be taken away. We will all work together for everyone.”