• Source:JND
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Hyderabad News: Hyderabad finds itself at a crossroads as the 10-year deadline for its status as a common capital for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh approaches. The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, passed in 2014, stipulated that Hyderabad would serve as the joint capital for both states for a period of 10 years, after which it would become the exclusive capital of Telangana.

As the June 2, 2024 deadline looms, the future of Hyderabad's governance remains uncertain. K T Rama Rao, the working president of the Bharath Rashtra Samithi (BRS) party in Telangana, has suggested a possibility that the central government may declare Hyderabad as a Union Territory (UT) once the joint capital arrangement expires.

Hyderabad To Be A Union Territory?

The prospect of Hyderabad becoming a UT would bring changes. The city would be directly under the control of the central government, with a centrally appointed Lieutenant Governor overseeing its administration. This would result in the loss of a state legislative assembly and elected representatives, potentially impacting the residents' direct involvement in local matters. Moreover, the transition to a UT-GST system could also lead to changes in the tax regime, affecting businesses and residents alike.

Political leaders in Andhra Pradesh are calling for an extension of Hyderabad's status as the joint capital for another 10 years. This would mean that the city would continue to serve as the shared capital for both states, at least for the time being.

Three Capital Model

The ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in Andhra Pradesh has proposed a three-capital model, suggesting Amaravati as the legislative capital, Visakhapatnam as the executive capital, and Kurnool as the judicial capital. In contrast, the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has mentioned to develop Amaravati as the state's sole capital if it gains power in the upcoming elections.

Adding to the confusion, the BRS in Telangana has suggested that if the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) retains power at the Centre, it might amend the AP Reorganisation Act to designate Hyderabad as a Union Territory.