The Verdict: Misleading
The original video, an interview, clearly shows the Telugu Desam Party leader stating that Amaravati would remain the capital of the state.
What is the claim?
On May 7, 2024, Sajjala Bhargava Reddy, media coordinator of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), posted a video clip claiming that the Visakhapatnam Lok Sabha candidate from the Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) endorsed Visakhapatnam over Amaravati as the state’s capital.
The claim was widely shared on social media and even a news channel associated with the ruling YSRCP shared it based on the viral video clip.
However, the original interview reveals that the TDP leader emphasized that Amaravati would remain the capital while Visakhapatnam would also be developed if they were to come to power.
The misleading video created controversy during the Indian general election campaign in Andhra Pradesh.
What did we find?
Upon investigation, it was found that the video was edited with multiple jump cuts, distorting the leader’s actual statements. The original interview clearly stated that Amaravati would remain the capital.
The full interview, available on Instagram, confirmed the TDP leader’s stance on Amaravati as the sole capital and the development plans for Visakhapatnam.
Therefore, the claim that the TDP leader endorsed Visakhapatnam as the capital is misleading due to the distorted video clip.
The Verdict
The video circulating claiming the TDP leader’s endorsement of Visakhapatnam as the capital is misleading as the original interview clarifies his support for Amaravati.
(This story was originally published by Logically Facts, and republished by News18 as part of the Shakti Collective)