Amaravati, Jan 7: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Wednesday and urged the Centre to accord statutory status to Amaravati as the permanent capital of the State.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister requested the Union government to introduce a Bill in Parliament to formally recognise Amaravati as the State’s capital, describing the move as crucial for Andhra Pradesh’s long-term development and administrative stability. Naidu arrived in the national capital after visiting the Polavaram project site earlier in the day.
Both leaders reviewed key development projects and welfare initiatives related to Andhra Pradesh during their discussions.
Emphasising the need for policy certainty, Naidu said legislative backing for Amaravati would accelerate infrastructure development, fulfil public aspirations, and enhance investor confidence in the State.
The Chief Minister also sought flexibility in the implementation of the VB–G-RAM-G scheme, which has replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA). He raised concerns over the revised Centre–State funding ratio under the scheme.
Naidu told Shah that shifting the funding pattern to 60:40 would impose an additional financial burden on Andhra Pradesh, which is already facing fiscal stress. He cautioned that the revised ratio could adversely affect the effective implementation of rural employment programmes in the State.
Seeking relief, the Chief Minister requested alternative financial support and greater flexibility, taking into account Andhra Pradesh’s current economic situation. He acknowledged the Centre’s assistance in helping the State recover from financial challenges and appealed for continued cooperation.
The meeting also covered ongoing development projects, welfare schemes, and recent administrative developments in Andhra Pradesh. Issues related to allocations for the State in the upcoming Union Budget were also discussed.
Naidu, whose Telugu Desam Party (TDP) is a key partner in the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre, is understood to have sought enhanced budgetary allocations for several projects in Andhra Pradesh.