Celebrations, protests mark AP capital decision

Andhra Pradesh Government's decision to make Vijayawada region the capital of residuary State has evoked a mixed response from the people of different districts though political parties largely welcomed the move.
The announcement on new capital, made by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in Assembly, was hailed by the leaders and people of Krishna and other coastal districts.
Cadres of ruling TDP garlanded the statues of the party founder N T Rama Rao and celebrated the moment by distributing sweets and bursting crackers.
However, some student bodies and other outfits held protests in Kurnool and other places in Rayalaseema and also in Visakhapatnam, which too were in the race. A bandh was observed in parts of Rayalaseema in support of their demand that the capital be located in the region.

Demand for locating the capital in north coastal Andhra (Visakhapatnam region) has also been voiced by some outfits.
Main Opposition YSR Congress and BJP, a partner in the TDP-led Government, welcomed the announcement on the floor of the Legislative Assembly. However, the Jaganmohan Reddy-led party found fault with the Government's approach though he welcomed it.

TDP, BJP and YSR Congress are the only parties which have a representation in the Assembly.
Alleging the TDP Government has adopted a unilateral approach, Congress MLC C Ramachandraiah said a holistic stand taking along Opposition parties should have been taken.
The TDP Government depended on the Centre for many things, including building the state Capital, but the latter has done precious little since it assumed office, he said.

The Lok Satta Party of bureaucrat-turned-politician Jayaprakash Narayan welcomed the decision to locate the capital in Vijayawada region, but demanded that steps be taken for decentralisation of administration.
Lok Satta leader D V V S Varma appealed to the people not to get emotional on the issue of capital city and observe restraint. "People should stand united to achieve development of all regions," he said.