After Vizag, a gathering storm in support of the judicial capital in Kurnool

After orchestrating a JAC in Vizag, YSRCP is fuelling a similar effort in favour of Kurnool as judicial capital as it counters those opposed to its three-capitals plan.

BySNV Sudhir

Published Oct 13, 2022 | 9:17 AMUpdatedOct 13, 2022 | 9:17 AM

Vizag garjana poster

The political moves to counter and neutralise the Opposition-backed mobilisation in favour of a single capital for Andhra Pradesh in Amaravati is now gathering strength.

On the lines of the agitation building up in north Andhra for setting up the “executive capital” in Visakhapatnam, a movement is taking shape in Rayalaseema in favour of the “judicial capital” in Kurnool.

Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s three-capital plan, which its proponents argue will ensure decentralised and even development across the state, envisages Amaravati as the legislative capital, with Visakhapatnam and Kurnool hosting the executive and judicial capitals.

The plan is being opposed primarily by the Opposition TDP, which had initially proposed the greenfield capital in Amaravati.

It has been providing tacit support to the pro-single capital agitation by the farmers of Amaravati who are currently on a Maha Padyatra 2.0 to press their demand.

Pro-3 capitals agitation in Vizag…

The Visakha Garjana, a massive rally proposed in Visakhapatnam on 15 October to take the wind out of the sails of the Maha Padyatra 2.0, appears to have catalysed the efforts for a similar movement for the judicial capital in Kurnool.

Visakha Garjana poster

Visakha Garjana poster

All the Opposition parties opposed to the three-capitals plan are avoiding the Visakha Garjana like the plague, and clearly see it for what it is: A move to stymie the gathering momentum for a single capital at Amaravati and deflate the purpose of the Maha Padayatra.

Adding fuel to the already raging fire, Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan has openly questioned the need for the Visakha Garjana.

He said he would begin a tour Vizag and other north Andhra towns on the day of the rally and public meeting — being organised by a newly-constituted Joint Action Committee (JAC) that has YSRCP backing — to expose the political moves being orchestrated by Chief Minister Jagan’s party.

…and its Kurnool counterpart

Ever since the Vizag JAC was launched on 8 October, efforts are on in Rayalaseema to launch a similar JAC to spearhead an agitation for the judicial capital.

“Years ago, Rayalaseema had sacrificed its capital. We are not ready for another round of injustice to us. The Maha Padayatra is being led by realtors in the guise of farmers,” said YSRCP Rayachoti MLA Gadikota Srikanth Reddy while announcing the intention to form the JAC.

“The Rayalaseema JAC, with members from all walks of life, will hold meetings, discussions and round table conferences to explain to the people about the historic three-capitals decision and also sensitise them to how the Amaravati stir is meant to deprive what Rayalaseema rightfully deserves,” he added.

He said having the high court at Kurnool was the birthright of the Rayalaseema people, adding a meeting with intellectuals, people’s representatives, and ministers from Rayalaseema would soon be held on the benefits of the decentralisation of administration.

The matter is in court

The three-capitals plan of the Jagan government has been mired in controversy ever since it was announced and is currently caught in a legal tangle.

In early March, the Andhra Pradesh High Court delivered its  judgment on a batch of petitions filed by farmers — who had parted with their land for the construction of the Amaravati capital city — opposing the Jagan government’s plan to create three new capitals instead of one.

The high court bench struck down the move, observing that the Andhra Pradesh Assembly had no legislative competence to enact any law shifting the three organs of the state.

Six months after the high court struck down the three-capitals plan, the Jagan government on 17 September, filed a special leave petition (SLP) with the Supreme Court challenging the high court’s order. And there the matter rests at the moment.

TDP’s counter-offensive

Even as the ruling YSRCP has stepped up its attack on opposition TDP alleging it is sponsoring the Maha Padayatra by Amaravati farmers and branding the party as the traitor of north Andhra, the N Chandrababu Naidu-led party had launched a counter-offensive.

“Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is enacting a drama in the name of three capitals as he is vengeful towards the farmers. Cabinet ministers from the North Andhra region are keeping silent though the chief minister is creating hatred among the people and promoting regional imbalances,” said TDP Politburo member and MLA Nimmala Ramanaidu.

“The unfortunate developments in the state reflect the performance of Jagan Mohan Reddy. While Chandrababu Naidu, during his tenure as the chief minister, had developed Visakhapatnam as the state’s economic capital, Jagan has turned it into a crime capital,” he added.

Former MLA and senior TDP leader Dhulipala Narendra asked Jagan whether the people had given him a massive mandate to develop the state or help associates like YSRCP MP V Vijayasai Reddy, whom he accused of land grabbing in and around Vizag in anticipation of the city becoming the executive capital — the very same accusation levelled against the TDP in Amaravati.

Pawan Kalyan’s tweetstorm

In a series of tweets, Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan asked: “Why are these Garjanalu by the rulers? Whether for failing to stop migrations from north Andhra? Or extensively ruining the Rushikonda in Visakhapatnam.”

Ridiculing the Jagan government’s three-capitals plan, Pawan Kalyan said Andhra Pradesh could be made the United States of Andhra by making all the 25 districts independent states so that they can have 25 capitals.

In his tweets titled “Denikee Garjana..?” (Why these meetings in the name of Garjana), he asked: ““Is this for ruining the Rushikonda in Visakhapatnam unchecked and constructing a mansion? Or for giving orders to hand over Daspalla lands to your near and dear? Or is it for not being able to stop migrations from north Andhra?

“Is it for making fishermen shift to Goa, Gujarat, and Chennai after losing a chance of fishing on their own coast?  Is it for destroying the state in the name of three capitals?  Or is it for doing against what you said in the Assembly as an Opposition party?” Pawan Kalyan questioned.