‘Andhra is ready to welcome you’: Nara Lokesh suggests IT companies relocate in Karnataka quota dispute

Andhra Pradesh Minister and TDP leader Nara Lokesh on Wednesday called on IT companies to “relocate their operations” to Visakhapatnam.

Lokesh’s comments come in the wake of the Karnataka government’s decision to mandate 100% local quota for certain private jobs. The decision received heavy backlash and was put on hold the next day, with the government saying it would “reconsider and decide in the coming days.”

The TDP state MP, in a social media post by “X”, was quick to point out that Andhra Pradesh “has” the “most suitable and skilled manpower without any constraints from the government”.

“Dear @NASSCOM members, we understand your frustration. You are welcome to expand or relocate your business to our IT, IT services, AI & data centre cluster in Vizag. We will provide you with best-in-class facilities, uninterrupted power, infrastructure & best skilled manpower for your IT company without any restrictions from the government. Andhra Pradesh is ready to welcome you. Please reach out,” the Mangalagiri MP wrote in a post by X.

Nara Lokesh’s remarks come after Nasscom on Wednesday expressed concern over the Karnataka Cabinet-approved Bill on 100% private job reservation for Kannada people in Group C and D jobs, saying the bill could stunt the growth of the industry, affect employment and force companies to relocate.

On the same day, the Karnataka government approved a bill making it mandatory for C- and D-grade posts in the private industry to be filled by 100% Kannadagan (local) citizens. However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who made the announcement in a social media post, deleted it after receiving severe criticism from IT companies.

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TV Mohandas Pai, former CFO of Infosys, called the bill a “highly regressive, unnecessary, draconian, unconstitutional and illegal bill” and said it was “discriminatory in violation of Article 19.”

“I think this is a very regressive, unnecessary, draconian, unconstitutional and illegal bill. It is illegal as it is discriminatory violating Article 19. The Haryana government tried to do something about it but the High Court struck it down as unreasonable. Now, let’s look at the definition of ‘local’. A local is someone who was born here, has lived here for more than 15 years and can speak, read and write Kannada. The proof that you can speak, read and write is a graduation certificate. If I apply for a job without that… I will be considered a non-local,” said Mohandas Pai.

TV Mohandas Pai, former CFO of Infosys, called the bill a “highly regressive, unnecessary, draconian, unconstitutional and illegal bill” and said it was “discriminatory in violation of Article 19.”

“I think this is a very regressive, unnecessary, draconian, unconstitutional and illegal bill. It is illegal as it is discriminatory violating Article 19. The Haryana government tried to do something about it but the High Court struck it down as unreasonable. Now, let’s look at the definition of ‘local’. A local is someone who was born here, has lived here for more than 15 years and can speak, read and write Kannada. The proof that you can speak, read and write is a graduation certificate. If I apply for a job without that… I will be considered a non-local,” said Mohandas Pai.