A fresh social media war has erupted between the Information Technology Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Nara Lokesh and Priyank Kharge, with the two trading sharp barbs over state investments and rising debt figures.

The latest exchange began when Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh took to X to celebrate the recent commitment of a massive $15 billion Google AI data centre investment in Vizag.

In a competitive jab at their neighbour, Lokesh wrote, "They say Andhra food is spicy. Seems some of our investments are too. Some neighbours are already feeling the burn!"

He added that the state, which he referred to as the "rising 'youngest state' of India," had bagged the highest investment.

Karnataka Fires Back with Debt Warning

Karnataka's IT Minister, Priyank Kharge, quickly fired back, using an economic analogy to caution against Andhra Pradesh's fiscal health.

In a veiled retort on X, Kharge stated, “Everyone enjoys a bit of spice in their food, but just as nutritionists recommend a balanced diet, economists too advocate a balanced budget.” He then turned the focus onto AP’s rising liabilities, declaring that the neighbour’s total liabilities have now “ballooned to nearly Rs 10 lakh crore.”

Kharge further alleged that the N Chandrababu Naidu-led NDA alliance government in Andhra Pradesh had borrowed Rs 1.61 lakh crore in just one year. He also highlighted a worsening financial indicator: the state's revenue deficit to GSDP had reportedly risen from 2.6 per cent to 3.6 per cent.

Concluding his post with a reference to a well-known advertising slogan, Kharge asserted the perceived dominance of his state: "Whatever said and done, we will always be: 'Neighbour's envy and Owner's pride.'"

Escalation of a Feud

This latest online spat is an escalation of an existing rivalry between the two ministers. Kharge recently criticized Lokesh’s aggressive attempts to lure Bengaluru-based startups that were disgruntled over infrastructure issues in the city. Kharge had dismissed these efforts as 'desperate scavenging' and even hinted at 'parasitic behaviour.'

The previous online slugfest was triggered when Lokesh attempted to poach logistics startup BlackBuck. After BlackBuck’s CEO, Rajesh Yabaji, tweeted about the difficulty of operating from Bengaluru’s Bellandur area, Lokesh publicly intervened to invite him to relocate to Vizag.