The YSR Congress Party has stepped up its push for a new capital model proposed by party chief Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, pitching.
The Machilipatnam–Vijayawada–Guntur (Mavigun) corridor as an alternative to Amaravati—despite the Centre granting statutory backing to Amaravati as the state capital. The renewed campaign follows the passage of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in Parliament earlier this month. Jagan first floated the “Mavigun” concept on April 1, calling it a “Plan B” that expands the idea of a capital beyond a single city.
‘Mavigun’ as an alternative vision
Jagan has argued that the 110-km corridor linking Machilipatnam, Vijayawada and Guntur offers a more practical and economically viable model. According to him, the region already has key infrastructure—such as a port, national highways and proximity to an airport—which could allow it to function as a capital with significantly lower investment.
He has also claimed that the proposed model could be developed at a fraction of the cost of Amaravati, positioning it as a long-term growth corridor rather than a single administrative hub.
Political push gathers pace
While the proposal initially drew scepticism—even within the party—YSRCP leaders have now begun actively campaigning for it. At a recent party meeting in Tadepalli, Jagan reiterated that the idea was backed by “strong reasoning” and not a political gimmick.
Senior party leader Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy described Mavigun as a “better alternative” to Amaravati, arguing that it could become functional much faster due to existing infrastructure.
The party’s cadre and social media networks have also amplified the campaign, with slogans and promotional material positioning Mavigun as a key agenda ahead of future elections.
Ruling coalition dismisses proposal
The ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition has strongly rejected the idea. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu criticised the proposal, asserting that Amaravati remains the state’s rightful capital and that its development will continue.
TDP leaders have also questioned why Jagan did not propose the Mavigun model during his tenure, when he instead advocated a three-capital system—an idea that faced public and political resistance.
Debate over capital model intensifies
Political observers see the renewed push as part of a broader strategy by YSRCP to challenge Amaravati’s centrality and keep the capital debate alive. Analyst Srinivas Rao Manchala noted that the Mavigun campaign appears to be a coordinated effort to position it as a serious alternative.
He also suggested that the proposal could put pressure on the current government to accelerate Amaravati’s development, warning that delays could reopen the debate if political power shifts in the future.
For now, Amaravati retains legal backing as the capital. But with YSRCP aggressively promoting Mavigun, Andhra Pradesh’s capital question looks far from settled.
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