Andhra Pradesh has just witnessed a landmark moment — Google’s announcement of a massive AI hub in Visakhapatnam, bringing in an investment worth nearly ₹1.8 lakh crore. The project has been widely celebrated by industry experts, economists, and global media as a transformative step for the state and the nation.
However, while the world applauds, the YSR Congress Party (YCP) has chosen a surprisingly different path. Instead of appreciating the historic opportunity this investment brings, YCP leaders seem intent on downplaying the development and twisting the narrative.
Former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has not issued a single positive statement about the project. His party’s affiliated media outlets have either ignored the news or subtly sought to undermine it.
Former minister Gudivada Amarnath, in an attempt to justify the party’s stance, claimed that similar efforts were initiated in the past. Yet, even he could not clearly state whether the party supports or opposes this milestone. His remarks about “uncertainty in job creation” only deepened the confusion — making it appear as though the YCP’s main grievance is that the credit went to the current government.
Some YCP spokespersons and social media supporters went a step further, arguing that a data centre is nothing more than a warehouse with limited employment potential. Others even raised environmental concerns, claiming the hub could contribute to pollution and global warming — a narrative starkly at odds with the global perception of such projects as key enablers of digital and green economies.
Meanwhile, international media have hailed the project as a major leap forward for Andhra Pradesh, capable of transforming Visakhapatnam into an AI and data innovation capital. Economists point out that large-scale technology investments of this nature bring widespread benefits — from job creation and skill development to growth in local businesses, real estate, and infrastructure. The case of Hyderabad’s meteoric rise following its IT expansion stands as a proven example.
Yet, despite the optimism, the YCP’s silence and indirect criticism are being viewed as a new low in political conduct. Instead of acting as a constructive opposition and welcoming development that benefits the people, the party seems more concerned about losing political mileage.
In doing so, the YCP once again appears to have chosen politics over public welfare, missing the chance to stand with Andhra Pradesh at a defining moment in its journey toward technological and economic transformation.
