Andhra Pradesh Information Technology Minister Nara Lokesh, in his eagerness to project himself as an industry-friendly leader, appears to be courting controversy by openly attempting to poach businesses from other states.
The latest instance involves BlackBuck, a Bengaluru-based online trucking platform valued at over a billion dollars.
Its CEO, Rajesh Yabaji, recently posted on social media that he was considering relocating their office on Outer Ring Road.
The reason? The roads were in pathetic condition, unsafe, and employees were spending nearly two hours commuting one way. He further added that he didn’t see the situation improving in the next five years.
In response, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar promised to address the problem but firmly stated that companies cannot blackmail the government.
He pointed out that much of the land in the IT corridor is Panchayat land, which creates legal hurdles in executing infrastructure works. Yet, he expressed confidence that not a single company would leave Bengaluru.
It must be noted that Rajesh Yabaji had only spoken of moving out of Outer Ring Road, not out of Karnataka altogether.
Still, that was enough to excite Nara Lokesh, who quickly replied to Yabaji on X: “Hi Rajesh, can I interest you in relocating your company to Vizag? We are rated among the top five cleanest cities in India, are building best-in-class infrastructure, and have been rated the safest city for women. Please send me a DM.”
He even took a swipe at Shivakumar, advising him not to dismiss people’s grievances.
However, attracting investments is not a game of social media one-upmanship. Companies don’t shift bases because of a clever post on X or Instagram likes.
They invest when there is genuine world-class infrastructure, stable policies, and an ecosystem that supports business.
Lokesh would do well to think twice before lecturing seasoned chief ministers — men with far greater experience and stature than himself. Such antics risk stirring unnecessary friction between the peoples of both states.
Going by his working style, Lokesh appears to be carrying forward his father’s legacy in true fashion: more focused on publicity than on action.
Kiran Sharma
