New Delhi: Karnataka Electronics and IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge on Thursday criticised Andhra Pradesh IT minister and TDP leader Nara Lokesh after Lokesh suggested Anantapur as an alternative IT hub to Bengaluru. Kharge described Lokesh’s comments as “desperate scavenging” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“It is natural for weaker ecosystems to feed off stronger ones. Nothing wrong with that, but when it turns into desperate scavenging, it shows more weakness than strength,” Kharge wrote.
Bengaluru’s growth prospects
Kharge highlighted Bengaluru’s robust economic and urban growth, citing the Savills Growth Hubs Index. He projected the city’s GDP to rise by 8.5% until 2035, calling it the “world’s fastest-growing city,” and predicted a 5% growth in its property market in 2025.
The minister further noted that Bengaluru’s urban agglomeration is expected to house around 14.40 million people by 2025, growing at an annual rate of 2.76%. He emphasised the city’s ability to absorb migrants and underlined the state government’s efforts to build infrastructure to support rapid growth.
“We are one of the highest migrant absorption cities in India. The Government is and will continue to build infrastructure for the rapid growth we are experiencing,” Kharge wrote.
In a pointed remark, Kharge also posed a rhetorical question on X: “BTW, what is an organism that lives in or on an organism of another species and benefits by deriving nutrients at the other’s expense called?”
It is natural for weaker ecosystems to feed off stronger ones. Nothing wrong with that, but when it turns into desperate scavenging, it shows more weakness than strength.
– Bengaluru’s GDP is projected to grow at a significant 8.5% until 2035, positioning it as the world’s… https://t.co/E2tRggt8UW
— Priyank Kharge / ಪ್ರಿಯಾಂಕ್ ಖರ್ಗೆ (@PriyankKharge) October 2, 2025
Lokesh’s Anantapur pitch
Earlier on Thursday, Nara Lokesh had cited media reports about Bengaluru’s crumbling Outer Ring Road, suggesting that Anantapur could emerge as a better destination for IT investment due to its developing aerospace and defence ecosystem.
In a related initiative last month, Lokesh invited a logistics technology company to relocate to Vizag after it decided to move out of Bengaluru’s tech corridor because of poor road conditions. Lokesh tweeted:
“Hi Rajesh, can I interest you in relocating your company to Vizag? We are rated among top 5 cleanest cities in India, are building best-in-class infra, and have been rated the safest city for women. Please send me a DM.”
Conclusion
The exchange between Priyank Kharge and Nara Lokesh highlights the ongoing competition among Indian states to attract IT investment. While Andhra Pradesh is promoting emerging cities like Anantapur and Vizag, Karnataka continues to underscore Bengaluru’s economic growth, innovation potential, and infrastructure development, asserting its status as the country’s leading IT hub.