Till Friday evening, there were media reports that Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu would take the oath as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in Amaravati, symbolically indicating his intent to revive the capital city project.
In fact, within a day of the TDP's victory in the assembly elections on Tuesday, there were media reports that arrangements were being made in Amaravati for Naidu’s swearing-in ceremony.
Pictures showed an event management company from Hyderabad bringing materials to Amaravati in a few trucks for the erection of a podium and tents at an ideal location in the capital city region.
Within hours, the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority began clearing bushes and recarpeting roads in the capital region so that the area would look clean and green for the swearing-in ceremony.
TDP leaders, led by state party president K. Atchennaidu, visited a few areas in Amaravati. They reportedly identified a location near the All India Institute of Medical Sciences at Mangalagiri, which is part of Amaravati.
However, by Friday evening, the venue was suddenly changed. The latest reports indicate that Naidu’s swearing-in ceremony will take place at 11:27 am on June 12 at Kesarapalli IT Park near Gannavaram Airport.
TDP leaders made a quick visit to the new area and gave their approval. Soon after, massive arrangements began for the event. A huge crowd and prominent leaders from across the nation will be attending the ceremony.
Sources said the decision to change the venue was apparently made to avoid embarrassment for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as chief ministers of a few other states, who will be attending Naidu’s swearing-in ceremony.
Naidu felt it would be embarrassing to showcase the abandoned Amaravati capital city area, which had been neglected over the past five years, to Modi.
Additionally, holding the event closer to the airport would be more convenient for the Prime Minister.
