But then, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had different ideas about it. Later, the YSRCP, which came to power in 2019, brought three capitals to the fore in the name of Decentralization.

Now, TDP is back to power in 2024, and has again declared Amaravati as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in AP on May 2nd for the inauguration of Amaravati 2.0.

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Jagan Mohan Reddy is also invited to this event, and YSR Congress's stand on the capital still remains uncertain.

Let us see the timeline of how Jagan Mohan Reddy played flip-flops with Amaravati.

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2014:

In the Assembly, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy declared support for Amaravati as the Opposition Leader in the Assembly but criticized the land acquisition. He objected acquiring 33,000 acres of fields where three crops can be grown a year for the construction of the capital.

The YSRCP even abstained from the Amaravati foundation stone laying ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, opposing the then government's decision on land acquisition. It later alleged that a land scam worth thousands of crores of rupees had taken place in the capital area.

Just Before 2019 Elections:

TDP started alleging that YSR Congress will stop Amaravati if voted to power. However, Jagan Mohan Reddy has made it clear that they are committed to Amaravati as the capital. He also built a house in Tadepalli before the elections and moved in. YSRCP leaders, including YS Jagan, criticized Chandrababu Naidu for not having his own house yet and for living in a rented house here by providing a 'shuttle service' from Hyderabad.

Immediately After Coming To Power In 2019:

Botsa Satyanarayana dropped the first hint of YSR Congress's Stand. Botsa, referring to Chandrababu's visit to Amaravati at that time, said, "చంద్రబాబు అమరావతిలో ఏం చూస్తారు.. స్మశానం..చూసి ఏడవడానికా?"

When the TDP criticized Botsa, calling Amaravati as స్మశానం, Botsa defended his comments. He said that there was nothing there except dried-up fields and half-finished constructions.

December 17th, 2019:

As Chief Minister, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, on the last day of the Assembly session, made the announcement of the three capitals.

"If you look at South Africa, there are three capitals there. Perhaps the legislative capital can be placed in Amaravati. The executive capital can be placed in Visakhapatnam and the High Court in Kurnool," Jagan commented that day. He said that Amaravati needs One Lakh Nine Thousand crores of Rupees for construction but AP can not afford that. So three capitals idea is the way to go.

January 2020:

In line with Jagan's announcement, the Assembly passed the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) abolition and AP administrative decentralization bills during the special sessions of the Legislative Assembly in January 2020. But then, TDP obstructed those bills in the Council using their strength there.

Then, the Assembly passed it again in September. The Government tried to pass the Bill to bypass the council.

September 2020:

The Three Capitals Act was made in September 2020 with the approval of the Governor. Farmers who gave their lands to the Capital also started hitting the streets demanding Amaravati to be the Sole Capital. All Opposition Parties lent their support to their agitation.

Farmers approached the AP High Court, and the legal implications became a challenge to the then YSRCP government.

2021:

The then government announced the redevelopment of the APTDC-run Haritha resort on Rushikonda Hill and said that it would be turned into a major tourist attraction. The hill was camouflaged, and inside a Palace was built to house Jagan Mohan Reddy and his family when he shifted to Vishakapatnam. The construction was finished in early 2024 due to legal hurdles. But Jagan never set foot there.

March 2022:

YSR Congress Government sensed that they would receive a negative Judgment in this case and withdrew both the laws themselves. The State Government has withdrawn the CRDA and the Three Capitals Act, which were passed in the name of administrative decentralization. However, on this occasion, YS Jagan said that they are committed to three capitals and will bring in stronger legislation in the future.

March 5th, 2022:

On March 5th, 2022, the AP High Court delivered a historical verdict saying that the Legislative Assembly does not have the authority to change the capital. It also imposed a time limit for the construction of Amaravati. The AP government moved the Supreme Court against this verdict. Meanwhile, this case is still pending in the Supreme Court.

June 4th, 2024:

The people of Andhra Pradesh gave a resounding victory to TDP and its allies. Even the people of Vishakapatnam, the real beneficiaries of the so-called three capitals, rejected YSR Congress, indicating that they are not interested in Jagan's idea.

March 3rd, 2025:

Botsa Satyanarayana, the LoP in the AP Legislative Council, announced that they would reconsider and reveal their policy on the capital. Botsa said that they had gone towards three capitals based on the circumstances at that time and clarified that they would discuss what their policy is now on the capital and announce it soon.