Visakhapatnam: Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined state leaders this week to relaunch construction of Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh’s capital. While the event symbolised a fresh start under the new Telugu Desam Party-Bharatiya Janata Party-Jana Sena Party coalition government, it exposed a critical gap – the Union government’s warm rhetoric contrasted sharply with its lack of firm funding commitments or clear strategy for the city’s estimated Rs 1 lakh crore development.Modi hailed Amaravati as a “Shakti” essential for both a “Viksit Andhra Pradesh” and “Viksit Bharat”. He pledged the Union government’s support for the project’s swift completion. Chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed gratitude to the prime minister for providing financial “oxygen” to the state. However, beneath the ceremonial praise lay lingering questions about funding, implementation strategy and unaddressed state issues.The most glaring issue was Modi’s lack of specific funding commitments from the Centre. As political analyst and former member of legislative council Professor K. Nageshwar told The Wire, “Modi offered only a general assurance: ‘You are working to build infrastructure; the Centre will cooperate for its speedy completion.’ There was no concrete financial commitment.”This fell short of public expectations, Nageshwar observed, particularly regarding the possibility of converting an existing Rs 15,000 crore World Bank loan into a grant. “A grant would free the state from repayment obligations, unlike a loan which adds to the state’s debt burden… why wasn’t this loan converted into a grant?” he questioned.He argued that the Centre bears responsibility for funding the new capital, since Parliament, with BJP support, divided Andhra Pradesh in 2014 and cost the state its developed capital of Hyderabad. “Since Parliament enacted the division, the responsibility to compensate Andhra Pradesh for losing its capital and fund a new one rests with the Centre,” Nageshwar stated. He dismissed a suggested Rs 50,000 crore grant as “negligible within the Centre’s massive budget”. He posed a direct question: “If Amaravati contributes to Viksit Bharat, what is the Centre’s tangible investment in its construction and development? This role remains undefined.” Modi left the Union government’s actual investment commitment unclear.The visit appeared designed to strengthen the BJP presence in Andhra Pradesh. Modi customised his speech with references to local history, culture and Telugu phrases – “Modi’s characteristic and generally well-received style,” Nageshwar noted. While routine national projects were presented as special benefits, Nageshwar pointed out that infrastructure linking North and South India naturally benefits Andhra Pradesh given its geographic position. “Railway lines and road routes… cannot bypass Andhra Pradesh,” he said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi being welcomed by Andhra Pradesh Governor Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan at the Velagapudi helipad, Andhra Pradesh. Photo: X/@JaiTDPModi’s special attention to alliance partner Pawan Kalyan – showing “his customary special affection and recognition, as he has done since day one,” according to Nageshwar – and his planned attendance at International Yoga Day in Visakhapatnam on June 21 further elevates the BJP’s profile and familiarity with its kind of politics with help from its coalition partners.Notably, Modi refrained from criticising – even indirectly – the previous YSRCP government under Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, despite its three-capital plan having delayed Amaravati’s development for five years. This silence was significant, given that the ruling TDP has built its narrative around the “destruction” allegedly caused by the YSRCP.Moreover, Modi did not provide any central legal guarantee for Amaravati as the sole capital, despite Naidu’s hints about amending the Bifurcation Act. “Crucially… Modi remained silent,” Nageshwar emphasised. He explained that this aligns with the Union government’s consistent position (previously stated in court) that selecting a capital is the state’s responsibility. Although an ordinance would be sufficient, “the Centre seems unwilling to provide this guarantee… The BJP did not accept the TDP’s narrative of seeking a legal guarantee.” This ambiguity, Nageshwar argued, gives the Union government room to manoeuvre and creates “a lingering fear… about Amaravati’s future should political dynamics change”.The emphasis on Amaravati eclipsed other crucial state issues. Modi provided no fresh commitments regarding longstanding demands such as Special Category Status (SCS), unfulfilled bifurcation promises or halting the privatisation of the Vizag Steel Plant.“While Chandrababu Naidu raised the Kadapa Steel Plant issue, he didn’t mention Special Status,” Nageshwar noted. “Modi made no commitments regarding Kadapa Steel, nor did he address reversing the Vizag Steel Plant privatisation… The crucial matters – special status, capital grants and Vizag Steel – received no concrete assurances.”The event highlighted political pragmatism. The mutual praise between Modi and Naidu stood in stark contrast to their previous public clashes. After their alliance collapsed in 2018, Naidu had criticised Modi for contributing only “soil and water”, while Modi had accused Naidu of treating the Polavaram project like an “ATM”.“It’s praise during alliance, criticism during opposition,” Nageshwar observed. “Modi, who once accused Naidu… now promises to complete [Polavaram] with him. This is how politics works.” The dramatic shift was evident in Naidu calling Modi a “global leader” and “inspiration”, while Modi declared that “no leader surpasses Chandrababu”.Finally, Nageshwar drew a stark contrast between Modi’s vague assurances in Amaravati and his detailed project announcements elsewhere, particularly in Bihar. “In Bihar, announcements are concrete and specific. In Amaravati, we heard only a general address: ‘work hard, we’ll support,’ along with platitudes,” he said.“The ultimate question remains: What tangible benefits did Andhra Pradesh actually receive from this visit?”