Political Fallout as Google Chooses Andhra Pradesh Over Tamil Nadu for $15 Billion AI Investment

Google CEO Sundar Pichai (File)

Chennai:

Andhra Pradesh's successful acquisition of Google's $15 billion investment for an Artificial Intelligence hub in Vizag has ignited political controversy beyond the initial dispute with Karnataka over infrastructure quality in Bengaluru.

The opposition in Tamil Nadu has now leveraged this development to criticize the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government, highlighting their failure to secure this investment despite having a seemingly natural advantage - Google CEO Sundar Pichai's Tamil roots, as he was born in Madurai.

This criticism from the AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) emerges as the state approaches next year's Assembly election, signaling increasing political tension in Tamil Nadu.

The BJP-allied AIADMK has already targeted Chief Minister MK Stalin's government over alleged deterioration in law and order, citing numerous recent murder and sexual assault cases reported across the state.

Regarding the Google investment situation, senior AIADMK leader RB Udayakumar told the media that the DMK had squandered a "historic opportunity" to establish the data and AI hub in Tamil Nadu.

"Despite Google CEO Sundar Pichai being a Tamil, the DMK government failed to invite the company to establish its AI infrastructure hub here," he stated on Monday morning, criticizing what he described as a lack of proactive engagement and strategic vision that allowed Andhra Pradesh to secure this valuable project.

"This is not just a missed investment. It's a lost chance for Tamil Nadu to emerge as a national hub for AI, data analytics, and digital infrastructure," Udayakumar declared, adding, "If the DMK government had shown initiative, the project would have been in Tamil Nadu today."

Responding for the DMK, Tamil Nadu Industries Minister TRB Raaja pointed out that the state is set to receive an even larger investment - approximately Rs 15,000 crore - from Foxconn, the Taiwanese electronics manufacturing giant known for producing Apple devices including iPhones.

He also refuted claims that the Tamil Nadu government made no efforts to attract Google's investment.

Last August, Chief Minister Stalin visited Google and Microsoft offices during his trip to the United States, signing agreements related to AI skill development initiatives and, importantly, working to expand the state's capacity in semiconductor and smartphone manufacturing.