The YSRCP’s social media wing has stirred controversy by amplifying Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge’s critique to discredit Andhra Pradesh. Karnataka is feeling pressure as Andhra is making significant investment inroads. Google recently announced a $15 billion, 1-gigawatt AI/data centre hub in Visakhapatnam.
This deal is being viewed as a big win for Andhra’s IT Minister Nara Lokesh, who is credited with bringing TCS, Accenture, and Cognizant to the port city. The move raises the stakes for Karnataka, which has struggled to match such large scale investments.
Priyank Kharge remarked that Andhra offered “insane” subsidies to attract Google, warning that such giveaways may cross into financial indiscipline. He implied that Karnataka could face the same criticism if it attempted similar incentive packages.
Critics point out that YSRCP did not deliver any comparable investment in its last five years in power. Yet now, they are using Kharge’s statements to attack the government in power. The strategy appears to backfire in public perception.
YSR Congress’s rank and file are reportedly behaving obnoxiously, critics say. If they cannot applaud substantial progress in the state, how can they convincingly seek votes next time?
