Hyderabad: With Vijayawada being announced as the capital city of residuary Andhra Pradesh on Thursday by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, this historical and cultural hub is all set to regain its glory and pre-eminent position.
Vijayawada in Krishna district of coastal Andhra Pradesh has traditionally occupied a prominent place in the history of Telugus. Krishna district gets its name from Krishna, the third largest river that flows in India. The holy river originates near Mahabaleswar (Maharashtra) and joins the Bay of Bengal near Hamsaladevi Village in the district.
Read: It’s official: Andhra Pradesh capital in Vijayawada region, announces Chandrababu Naidu
Krishna is considered the kernel of Telugu culture and is the birth place of the famous Indian classical dance form - Kuchipudi. The dialect of Telugu spoken in Krishna is often considered to be the standard form of Telugu.
A commercial hub, the Vijayawada region, is also known for the contribution of its freedom fighters, entrepreneurial spirit and strides in the cultural field.
Dharanikota in present day Guntur district, neighbouring Vijayawada, was the first capital of Simukha, the founder of Satavahana dynasty in 3rd century BC, according to official records of Andhra Pradesh government.
Read: ACCI welcomes decision to make AP capital in Vijayawada region
The present Nagarjunakonda in Guntur district, which was known as Sriparvata and Vijayapuri, was the capital of Ikshvaku kings. After the Ikshvakus, a part of the Andhra region north of the river Krishna was ruled over by Jayavarma of Brihatphalayana 'gotra'.
Salankayanas ruled over a part the East Coast with Vengi (near Eluru around 60 kms from Vijayawada) as their capital. After the Salankayanas, next to rule were Vishnukundins who occupied the territory between the Krishna and Godavari. The Vishnukundins extended patronage to architecture and sculpture.
Celebrations, protests mark Andhra Pradesh capital decision
Andhra Pradesh Government's decision to make Vijayawada region the capital of residuary State has evoked a mixed response from the people of different districts though political parties largely welcomed the move.
The announcement on new capital, made by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in Assembly, was hailed by the leaders and people of Krishna and other coastal districts. Cadres of ruling TDP garlanded the statues of the party founder N T Rama Rao and celebrated the moment by distributing sweets and bursting crackers.
However, some student bodies and other outfits held protests in Kurnool and other places in Rayalaseema and also in Visakhapatnam, which too were in the race. A bandh was observed in parts of Rayalaseema in support of their demand that the capital be located in the region.
Demand for locating the capital in north coastal Andhra (Visakhapatnam region) has also been voiced by some outfits.
Main Opposition YSR Congress and BJP, a partner in the TDP-led Government, welcomed the announcement on the floor of the Legislative Assembly. However, the Jaganmohan Reddy-led party found fault with the Government's approach though he welcomed it.
TDP, BJP and YSR Congress are the only parties which have a representation in the Assembly.
Alleging the TDP Government has adopted a unilateral approach, Congress MLC C Ramachandraiah said a holistic stand taking along Opposition parties should have been taken.
The TDP Government depended on the Centre for many things, including building the state Capital, but the latter has done precious little since it assumed office, he said.
The Lok Satta Party of bureaucrat-turned-politician Jayaprakash Narayan welcomed the decision to locate the capital in Vijayawada region, but demanded that steps be taken for decentralisation of administration.
Lok Satta leader D V V S Varma appealed to the people not to get emotional on the issue of capital city and observe restraint. "People should stand united to achieve development of all regions," he said.
