YSRCP slams Andhra CM for 'hiding' Adani deal behind Google data centre
Visakhapatnam (PTI): YSRCP senior leader Gudivada Amarnath on Tuesday accused Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of "misleading" the public over tech giant Google decision to set up a USD 15 billion gigawatt-scale Artificial Intelligence data centre in Visakhapatnam, while "hiding" Adani Group's name in the project.
The southern state and Google inked the pact in New Delhi in the presence of CM Naidu, Google Cloud chief executive Thomas Kurian, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and others.
"This so-called Google Data Centre project is nothing but a deliberate attempt by Naidu to mislead the people of Andhra Pradesh," said Amarnath, addressing a press conference here.
The former minister alleged that the project portrayed as a Google investment is actually a joint venture with Adani Group whose name was "deliberately hidden" to avoid scrutiny.
This is not a Google project as claimed by Naidu, he said, adding that it is an Adani data centre whose foundation was already laid during YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's tenure as CM between 2019 and 2024 with transparent employment-linked approvals.
Questioning the economic logic of the deal, he asked how the state could justify offering Rs 22,000 crore in subsidies for the "creation of 200 jobs", citing reports from a vernacular newspaper.
Amarnath said that data centres "do not generate significant employment globally," noting that even Sify Technologies chairman had acknowledged this matter recently.
He asserted that during the previous YSRCP government, "Adani was asked to build IT towers and create 25,000 jobs as part of a broader IT ecosystem model".
The former minister asked, "If employment generation was truly the goal, why didn't Naidu demand a Google Development Centre instead of handing over land, power and subsidies to corporates?"
According to Amarnath, the agreement extends massive incentives, including 500 acres of land at 25 per cent rebate, Rs 2,200 crore capital subsidy, Rs 1,000 crore annual power subsidy, 15-year electricity duty waiver and 20-year transmission charge waiver.
He claimed that the project would consume one million units of power per hour - equivalent to Visakhapatnam's entire city demand and 5 TMC of water from Polavaram, raising serious concerns over resource allocation.
Amarnath criticised the project as an instance of "corporate exploitation" backed by Naidu, alleging that Vizag's resources were being handed over without generating jobs, revenue or public benefit.
The AI hub at Visakhapatnam will be Google's largest outside the US and include a data centre fuelled by clean energy and a fibre-optic network.
Business tycoon Gautam Adani said his company AdaniConneX would partner with Google on the project, along with Bharti Airtel, India's second-largest mobile operator.
CM Naidu said the state government contacted Google immediately after coming to power and pursued the tech giant relentlessly, culminating in a USD 15 billion investment in data centres.
"As soon as the coalition government (NDA alliance) came to power, we contacted Google. We could reach the target only with relentless follow-up," Naidu said in an interaction with MPs, MLAs, and TDP leaders after returning from New Delhi, according to a press release.
With the establishment of Google AI data centres in Visakhapatnam, India will witness rapid growth in sectors such as education, health, and agriculture, the CM added.
Calling it a breakthrough for promoting Visakhapatnam as a major IT hub, he said IT Minister Nara Lokesh played a key role in bringing Google to the city.
Naidu urged party leaders to raise awareness among people about the upcoming Google AI data centre in Visakhapatnam.
According to the chief minister, Google AI data centres will have a transformative effect on the port city similar to Microsoft’s impact on Hyderabad years ago.
"The entry of Microsoft changed the IT scenario in Hyderabad, and now Google AI data centres will bring an AI revolution to Visakhapatnam," he said.
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Siddaramaiah, I will abide by Cong high command decision on leadership issue, says Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said both he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will abide by any decision takeb by the Congress high command on the leadership issue in the state.
Speaking to reporters after returning from Delhi, the Congress state president said, he has full faith in the party leadership and that it would take an approapriate decision at the appropriate time.
The remarks comes amid speculations within the party and political circles about a possible leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, when the results for assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two assembly segments in the Karnataka are announced.
"I will not speak about political issues before the media. I have already said that when the time comes you will get to know. So I will not tell you," Shivakumar said in response to a question on discussions with the Congress high command during his Delhi visit over the last couple of days.
He asserted that there are no issues within the party, and whatever has been already decided will take place accordingly.
Responding to a question on senior Minister Satish Jarkiholi's reported statement about internal differences, the Deputy CM said, "nothing like that, they (high command) will do what they have to do at the appropriate time."
"There are no issues, we have faith in our party, they will do what they have to," he added.
Asked about the issue of leadership change as the government is about to complete three years in office, Shivakumar said, "... I have never discussed this issue. The CM and I have both said that we will accept whatever and whenever the high command decides, and we will abide by it."
He declined to comment when asked whether any "good news" can be expected by his birthday on May 15.
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025. The speculation has been fuelled by the reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
Responding to a question on the BJP's criticism against the Congress government over its decision on internal reservation for Scheduled Castes, alleging injustice to several communities and questioning its intent behind the revised quota formula, Shivakumar said the BJP could not do anything on internal reservation while in power, but the Congress has kept its promise.
"We have found a solution and tried to do justice to all sections among SCs. We have fulfilled the promise made and every one should go together," he said.
Shivakumar warned his party workers against erecting flex banners for his birthday on May 15.
"For May 15, I want to tell everyone that no one should put up flex banners or advertisements for my birthday. If flex are installed I will ensure that cases are registered by authorities against those responsible, whether they are party workers or followers....no one should put such things on roads, this is my personal request," he said, adding that he has asked commissioners of the city corporations to register cases and impose heavy fines.
