When Andhra Pradesh cabinet led by YSR Congress party president and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy deferred the decision on shifting administrative capital from Amaravati to Visakhapatnam three days ago, it raised quite a few eyebrows.
Some people thought Jagan might have developed second thoughts; others speculated that he might have got a snub from Delhi and a few others said it could be a strategic move to douse the flames of agitating farmers.
However, it is now clear that Jagan does not want to be hasty in the capital shift as it might lead to legal complications.
For, the experts committee headed by G N Rao has no legal sanctity and even the study by Boston Consultancy Group cannot stand in the court of law.
That is precisely why Jagan appointed a high-power committee which has members representing all departments – finance, home, law, police, urban development, industries, education, agriculture, transport and civil supplies. Since this is a government-empowered committee, the decisions taken by this would stand legal scrutiny.
And Jagan is likely to convene the special assembly session to discuss and approve this high-power committee so that it cannot be challenged by the court of law.
So, even if it gets delayed by a few weeks, Jagan is not unduly worried, since he wants to avoid any legal hassles that might crop up in the coming days.
Naturally, the appointment of the high-power committee made the banner headlines in all the major Telugu dailies, since it is the ultimate step towards the implementation of three capitals plan.
Of course, Andhra Jyothy and Eenadu continued to focus on the agitation by farmers of Amaravati capital region and gave huge coverage to the visit of former Union minister and BJP MP Sujana Chowdary to the capital region.
Sakshi, however, played up the statement of Director General of Police Gautam Sawang that some vested interests were instigating farmers to agitate and that strict action would be taken against perpetrators of violence.
Another news that headlines only in Andhra Jyothy and Eenadu and was ignored by Sakshi on the front page was the concluding meeting of World Telugu Writers’ Association which called for protection of Telugu language amidst onslaught by promoters of English and foreign languages.
The demise of Pejawar Mutt seer Vishweshwara Teertha Swamy and victory of Koneru Hampi in the World Rapid Chess Championship are some of the other important news that made it to the front pages of the major Telugu dailies on Monday.