Even as YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has been strongly pitching for Visakhapatnam as the executive capital of the state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments at a public meeting at the port city on Saturday gave him a lot of boost.
Modi showered immense praises on Visakhapatnam, describing it as one of the most prominent cities of India.
“It is a very special city for the entire country. In the ancient India, Visakhapatnam port was a prominent port city and it has been one of the most important commercial centres of the country,” he said.
Stating that Vizag port has a centuries-long history, Modi recalled how it has been the trade route to West Asia and Rome more than 1,000 years ago.
“Development will take place wherever there is a coast line,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the projects for which he had laid the foundation and launched would take Visakhapatnam into the path of progress and development. New projects like multi-modal transport system and rail infrastructure would transform India into a developed city, he said.
Though Modi did not make any mention of the executive capital at Visakhapatnam or comment on the three-capitals plan, his statement on Visakhapatnam and its infrastructure are being viewed as an endorsement of the executive capital.
Even if Modi has no such an intention, the YSR Congress party has every chance of interpret his comments in favour of the three capitals formula.
In fact, the YSRC leaders are pointing out that Modi was all smiles when chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy was mentioning about decentralised administration and seeking adequate help to the state to develop the port city.
However, it is unlikely that Modi would make any such commitment till the Supreme Court gives clearances to the three capitals.