Tirupati: Seema sees chance amid capital shift talk

Tirupati: The speculations on the change of State capital from Amaravati triggered many political leaders' reactions both pro and against as well seeking the capital to locate in their place. Senior Congress leader Dr Chinta Mohan said that if at all the YSRCP government wanted to change the capital from Amaravati then it should consider Tirupati.

Speaking to media here on Wednesday, Mohan said that Tirupati is in all aspects is most suitable to locate the capital and no one including political leaders and people of other regions will not oppose it.

A vast stretch of government land between Yerpedu in Chittoor district and Rapuru in Nellore district, water from Kandaleru, International airport and other facilities are readily available, the former MP said while batting for Tirupati for capital. Opposing Donakonda for capital on the ground that in no way it is suitable, he said that earlier in 2013 itself he wrote to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to consider Tirupati for AP capital in case the State is bifurcated and also made a survey on availability of land and other facilities through officials. Actually, it was Sanjeeva Reddy, who was responsible for taking the capital to Kurnool when Andhra State was carved out from Madras State denying Tirupati and it is high time that the famous pilgrim centre should get its long due.

However, BJYM State president Ramesh Naidu opposed any move to shift the capital from Amaravati and termed the rumours on the change as mischievous and the handiwork of vested interests. He said that Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy should stop contemplating the change of capital.

Meanwhile, Rayalaseema Intellectual Forum convener M Purushottam Reddy also demanded to change the capital to Rayalaseema as per Sri Bagh Pact and opined that it will be the only way to ensure balance power and equal growth of all three regions in the State.