Cheap Tricks: YSRCP Claims Credit for Google Data Center

Just like how the then YSRCP Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath claimed in the state assembly five years ago that automobile giant KIA Motors came to Anantapur because of the efforts of former CM YS Rajasekhar Reddy, a similar script has once again been played by the same party. This time, it comes after Google announced its biggest data center outside the USA in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

It is well known that Google formally announced a $15 billion investment over the next five years through its AI hub in Vizag on Tuesday. The signing of the MoU between Chandrababu Naidu’s government and the company took place in the presence of the Union IT Minister and Finance Minister. The entire nation has been appreciating CM Chandrababu Naidu and IT Minister Nara Lokesh for making this ambitious project a reality within just 18 months of coming to power.

While Vizag has become the cynosure of the entire nation, with leaders and supporters from across the political spectrum praising Chandrababu Naidu’s vision and efforts, YSRCP leaders and supporters seem unable to accept the fact and have started spreading a new narrative.

Initially, YSRCP tried to downplay the historic moment by claiming that data centers would hardly benefit the state and would not create significant employment opportunities. However, this baseless campaign gained little traction because everyone knows it was Chandrababu’s brand image and Lokesh’s efforts that brought this massive achievement to Andhra Pradesh. When that narrative failed, they resorted to another cheap trick, attempting to credit YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for the investment.

As a last resort, some YSRCP leaders and followers are now recalling billionaire Gautam Adani’s meeting with YS Jagan Mohan Reddy a few years ago, trying to spread the story that it was the previous government that initiated talks for the Google Data Center. However, this claim is being widely ridiculed, as it is well known that the previous government did not take a single step to collaborate with any major tech companies to set up offices anywhere in Andhra Pradesh during its five-year tenure.

Political analysts and experts believe that the YSRCP cadre would be better off remaining silent if they cannot bring themselves to credit Chandrababu Naidu for this achievement, instead of turning into a laughing stock by pushing an unbelievable narrative that Jagan Mohan Reddy was behind Google setting up its biggest data center in Vizag.