Centre exposed coalition's 'investment mirage' in Andhra

The YSR Congress Party on Tuesday claimed that the Centre has exposed the TDP-led coalition government’s 'investment mirage’ in Andhra Pradesh. The YSRCP said that the coalition government's relentless publicity campaign claiming lakhs of crores of investments and lakhs of jobs in Andhra Pradesh has been exposed by the Union government's own data placed before Parliament.

Contrary to the grand claims repeatedly made by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and the coalition government, the Centre has confirmed that only 10 investment projects monitored by DPIIT and Invest India have been grounded in the State over the last two years, with only two projects completing construction.

The remaining projects are still under construction, while the much-publicised investment and employment figures largely remain projections rather than achievements, the YSR Congress said.

Replying to a question raised by YSRCP MP, P.V. Midhun Reddy, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada informed the Lok Sabha that the total investment linked to these projects is an estimated Rs. 6,962 crore. The Centre also clarified that the 22,167 jobs associated with these projects are only projected employment opportunities expected after the projects become operational and are not jobs that have already been created.

The reply does not disclose the actual investment realised so far, the number of industries that have commenced commercial production, or the number of people currently employed. The figures reinforce criticism that the State government has been portraying investment proposals as actual investments, projects under construction as operational industries, and estimated future jobs as employment already delivered, the Opposition party said.

In another reply concerning MSMEs and local entrepreneurs, the Centre stated that 10,093 people participated in 201 entrepreneurship development programmes during 2024-25, while 32,428 people attended 625 programmes during 2025-26.

However, it did not provide any information on how many trainees established industries, received financial assistance, started MSMEs, or generated employment, indicating that skill training cannot be projected as industrial development.

The Centre's replies in Parliament expose a stark disconnect between the TDP coalition government's political narrative and the reality on the ground. While the government continues to claim unprecedented industrial growth and employment generation, the official data show that only two industrial units have completed construction, with the remaining investments and jobs still confined to proposals, construction activity, and future estimates, it said.