Decode Politics: Hyderabad deadline looming, Andhra Pradesh is yet to have a capital – what happens next?

The capital issue between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh has again come to the fore, with the June 2, 2024 deadline set by the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 for Hyderabad to be the joint capital of the two states fast approaching.

At the moment, Andhra Pradesh is yet to have a capital city, with the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP government’s three-capital proposal failing to take off.

Both the YSRCP and the Opposition TDP have been raking up the issue in their campaign for the simultaneous Assembly and Lok Sabha polls scheduled for May 13.

While the TDP says it would continue on its path of developing Amaravati — its chosen capital when it came to power in 2014 — should it come to power, the YSRCP has stuck to its three-capital pledge.

Meanwhile, the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) in Telangana has added a fresh twist to the issue.

Recently, senior BRS leader and ex-minister K T Rama Rao claimed that if the BJP-led NDA returns to power at the Centre, it may amend the AP Reorganisation Act and turn Hyderabad into a Union Territory (UT).

After a prolonged struggle for a separate state, Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated to create a separate state of Telangana in 2014.

The AP Reorganisation Act says: “On and from the appointed day, Hyderabad in the existing State of Andhra Pradesh, shall be the common capital of the State of Telangana and the State of Andhra Pradesh for such period not exceeding ten years.”

It adds: “After expiry of the period… Hyderabad shall be the capital of the State of Telangana and there shall be a new capital for the State of Andhra Pradesh.”

As per the Act, Hyderabad will cease to be the joint capital of the two states from June 3.

In the elections held after the bifurcation exercise in May 2014, the N