Capital is State's subject: Centre

New Delhi: The Central government has categorically stated that it was the prerogative of the state to decide its capital. "It is for each state to decide its capital within its territory," the minister of state for home affairs Nityananda Rai in a written reply during question hour on Tuesday.

He was replying to a question raised by Galla Jaydev (TDP) who asked about the three-capitals proposal of Andhra Pradesh and the reaction of the Centre. He also wanted to know whether the government would advise the state not to resort to such decisions.

The minister said, "Recently, media reports have appeared indicating the state government's decision to create three capitals for the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is for each state to decide its capital within its territory."

The reply makes it clear that the capital city issue is within the purview of the state and there is no question of Centre's intervention. Nityananda Rai also noted that Amaravati was notified as capital in 2015 but now there are reports of three capitals. It is for the state to take a call on the issue, he summed up.