YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s statement in the assembly suggesting three capital cities – executive capital at Visakhapatnam, legislative capital at Amaravati and judicial capital at Kurnool – in place of a single cost-intensive mega capital at Amaravati, has become the biggest topic for debate in the media.
Naturally, it has become the banner story in Andhra editions of all the three major dailies. Even in Telangana editions, it has been given a lot of prominence on the front page.
Since the chief minister himself made a statement in the assembly and said he had made it “crystal clear,” one could only assume that he is very serious about implementing his plan of action; and the reports of experts committee and consultants’ committee are just a formality required for a record sake. The chief minister’s word is final.
That is precisely why Sakshi also explained in a “crystal clear” manner the entire plan of Jagan in his own words with graphics and blurbs.
Eenadu and Andhra Jyothy seem to have still some doubts; so, they only described it as an idea floated by the chief minister rather than a final decision.
Both the dailies also carried the reaction of Telugu Desam Party president and leader of the opposition N Chandrababu Naidu, who described it as a Tughlaq decision and wondered how three capitals could be run.
Sakshi dismissed it as a small pointer headline, but concentrated on the alleged irregularities committed by the previous TDP government in the Amaravati capital region through insider trading and in land pooling.
However, it is certain that the capital issue is going to hit the headlines of the media in the coming days as well, till the Jagan government comes up with a final announcement.
The murder of a Telugu Desam Party leader in Kurnool district and lifting of cases against those who took part in Kapu reservation agitations and in the attacks on Reliance properties post-death of Y S Rajasekhar Reddy were highlighted by Eenadu as part of its anti-establishment stand.
Similarly, Andhra Jyothy too has followed this anti-government agenda by carrying two reports: one on setback to the government bills on English medium in government schools and SC/ST commissions in the legislative council; another on the proposal to cut five lakh pensions in Andhra Pradesh citing old rules.
On the other hand, Sakshi carried three positive stories: one about Jagan’s appeal to the bureaucrats and police officials to extend cooperation in implementing the welfare agenda of the government at a dinner meeting; second on rise in employability of students in IT companies and third one on the Director General of Police Gautam Sawang’s meeting with police officials to discuss the implementation of AP Disha Act.
The continued violence in Delhi and other parts of the country over the Citizenship Amendment Act and Union home minister Amit Shah’s statement that there was no question of going back on the legislation was another important news that figured prominently on the front pages of all the three dailies. While Eenadu carried it as a second lead, others did it on a lesser scale.
The death sentence awarded to Pakistan President General Musharraf was also given front page reference in all the three dailies.