Troll thy neighbours: It's Andhra Pradesh vs Karnataka as Nara Lokesh, Priyank Kharge battle it out on X

NEW DELHI: The governments of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh are locked in a fierce rivalry over attracting top global companies, with tensions flaring over Google's proposed $15 billion AI data center in Visakhapatnam.Karnataka's IT Minister, Priyank Kharge, has openly criticized Andhra Pradesh's approach, accusing the state of offering "excessive subsidies" to lure the tech giant. He described Andhra's strategy as an "economic disaster waiting to happen," pointing out that the incentives, which include full GST reimbursement and subsidized land, water, and power, amount to approximately Rs 22,000 crore.

Kharge emphasized that Bengaluru has developed its IT prowess without compromising its future, focusing instead on innovation, talent, and policy stability.In response, Andhra Pradesh's IT Minister, Nara Lokesh, took to social media platform X with a cheeky retort: "They say Andhra food is spicy. Seems some of our investments are too. Some neighbors are already feeling the burn!" His post, complete with chili and fire emojis, quickly gained traction online.Kharge Jr. replied to the 'burn' tweet, stating, "Everyone enjoys a bit of spice in their food, but just as nutritionists recommend a balanced diet, economists too advocate a balanced budget.

Whatever said and done, we will always be: ‘Neighbor’s envy and Owner’s pride.’"This is not the first time the two ministers have clashed. Just last month, Lokesh extended an invitation to a logistics firm contemplating a move from north Bengaluru to Anantapur, touting Andhra's aerospace and defense ecosystem.Kharge countered by suggesting that weaker ecosystems "feed off stronger ones," and that such desperate measures "reveal more weakness than strength." Lokesh retorted, advising that "arrogance, like potholes, should be fixed first before the journey gets tripped up."