TDP chief, 17 MLAs detained as Bill on three capitals passed

Amaravati, January 20

Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu and at least 17 MLAs of his party were taken in police custody late on Monday as they tried to conduct a foot march from the state Assembly to nearby Mandadam village in violation of prohibitory orders. Earlier, the Assembly passed the AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill, 2020 on three capitals — executive capital in Visakhapatnam, legislative in Amaravati and judicial in Kurnool.

The TDP wanted some amendments, but the House rejected the same. TDP leaders started off on the march after staging a sit-in near the Assembly main entrance following the suspension of 17 MLAs for the day.

The Bill will be moved in the Legislative Council on Tuesday but the government may face an uphill task to see it through as the ruling YSR Congress is having just nine members in the 58-member Upper House.

Meanwhile, tensions prevailed at the Jana Sena Party headquarters at Mangalagiri as police prevented its president Pawan Kalyan from proceeding to the Amaravati region to speak to protesters fighting for the retention of only one capital for the state. DIG Kanti Rana Tata with others reached the Sena office and blocked its exit, resulting in an argument. — PTI