Will there be a CM’s camp office in Vizag before AP polls?

Vizag Dreams on Hold?

• YSRCP wary of EC’s potential election schedule announcement after Feb 9
• Amaravati farmers challenge the GO for the CM’s camp office
• AP High Court to seek govt details on accommodation requirements
• Despite challenges, YSRCP leaders express confidence in soon obtaining clearance
• TDP leader alleges camp office opening to bypass Amaravati decision

Visakhapatnam: Even as the battlelines are being drawn for the fast approaching general elections, uncertainty dogs over the opening of the camp office of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in Visakhapatnam due to certain legal hurdles.

The reason for worry on part of the YSR Congress Party leadership is the Election Commission of India's likelihood of announcing the election schedule after the Parliament's budget session anytime after February 9. In response to a petition challenging the GO, on opening transit accommodation for the Chief Minister's camp office and other officials and residences for them for holding review meetings on progress of North Coastal Andhra, filed by Amaravati farmers Madala Srinivasa Rao and Valaparla Manoharam, a two-member bench of Andhra Pradesh High Court comprising Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Upmaka Durga Prasad Rao sought a counter from the State government. It wanted details on requirements of officials, extent of accommodation for opening the transit office of the Chief Minister and other officials on the duration in a tabular form. While not setting aside the GO on opening of the camp office of the Chief Minister and officials who are required for frequent visits as well as stay in North Andhra, the bench sought details to decide the fate of the order. Gadde Tirupati Rao of Amaravati Parirakshana Samiti alleged that the opening of camp office was a plea to circumvent the earlier order of APHC challenging the legislative competence to change Amaravati as the capital.

Consequently, the AP government filed a special leave petition against the high court order, which is posted for hearing in the Supreme Court in April. Another petition challenging the creation of R-5 Zone at Amaravati to distribute house-sites to the homeless is also slated to be taken up by the apex court for hearing in April.

YSRCP leaders exude confidence that they will get clearance soon to open the camp office to focus more on development of North Andhra. "Making Visakhapatnam the executive capital will accelerate development in North Andhra comprising Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram Anakapalle, Alluri Sitharama Raju and Parvathipuram Manyam districts," Industries Minister Gudivada Amarnath, said.

"The transit accommodation idea was mooted as the formation of three capitals is not possible due to court cases and model code of conduct which will come into force once election notification is issued. After opening CM's camp office, YSRCP wanted to attack the Opposition for putting spokes in their efforts to make Visakhapatnam the executive capital, Kurnool the judicial capital and Amaravati the legislative capital," TDP senior leader and former Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao told Bizz Buzz.

Earlier, the Chief Minister had made a specific announcement that by December-end he will relocate to Visakhapatnam to make the City of Destine the seat of administration.

The government, subsequently, issued two GOs Ms. No.2015 and 2283 on opening camp office of the Chief Minister and other officials in October on the recommendation of a high-power committee consisting of Special Chief Secretaries, Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Finance, General Administration, Finance, Services and HRD.

One of the GOs identified 2.28 lakh sq ft of built-up space in various parts of the city and 1.75 lakh sq ft in Millennium Tower-A and B at Rushikonda. The APTDC (AP Tourism Development Corporation) resort rebuilt overlooking the Rushikonda beach was found by the committee as most suitable for housing the CM's camp office from administrative and security point of view.