Kumaraswamy: Karnataka must learn unity from Andhra Pradesh on development
Synopsis
Union Minister Kumaraswamy publicly shamed the Karnataka Congress government by holding up rival Andhra Pradesh — and even Telangana's own Congress chief minister — as examples of states that actively lobby the Centre for industry, while Karnataka, he argued, only creates obstacles. The Kudremukh mining row adds an immediate economic flashpoint to what is otherwise a political broadside.
Key Takeaways
Kumaraswamy on Monday, 7 July 2025 criticised the Karnataka Congress government for failing to lobby the Centre for industrial investment.
He cited Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu's efforts to secure the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant revival package as a model for proactive state engagement.
A major green steel plant is coming up at Anakapalli, Andhra Pradesh , secured through direct CM-level advocacy.
Even the Telangana Congress CM has met Kumaraswamy multiple times seeking electric buses and a steel plant, the minister noted.
Kumaraswamy warned that Kudremukh Iron Ore Company faces collapse due to state government mining hurdles, threatening thousands of workers' livelihoods.
The minister also alleged that 15 lakh saplings in a state tree-planting drive were planted improperly.
Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel H.D. Kumaraswamy on Monday, 7 July 2025, sharply criticised the Karnataka Congress government for failing to present a united front in securing industrial investments for the state, and held up Andhra Pradesh as a model of cross-party cohesion on development.
The Core Charge
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Kumaraswamy accused the Congress administration, led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, of placing obstacles before the Union government rather than pursuing investment opportunities. 'In other states, governments pursue us and repeatedly ask for industries. Karnataka has much to learn from neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Whatever their political differences, when it comes to the development of their state, they stand united,' the Union Minister said.
Visakhapatnam Steel Plant as a Benchmark
Kumaraswamy cited the revival package for the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant as a concrete illustration of what proactive state-level lobbying can achieve. He credited Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu with personally driving the effort. 'I know how hard the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh worked for it. When I visited Visakhapatnam after the special package was announced, people there performed a milk abhishekam for me. I do not need any such abhishekam here. Just allow me to work,' Kumaraswamy said. He also noted that Naidu personally insisted he attend the foundation stone ceremony for a major green steel plant coming up at Anakapalli in Andhra Pradesh.
Telangana Congress Sets a Counter-Example
Notably, Kumaraswamy pointed out that even the Congress Chief Minister of Telangana — a rival party in power — had met him multiple times to seek Central support, including more electric buses and a large steel plant on the lines of the one sanctioned for Andhra Pradesh. 'Their own party's Chief Minister is in power in Telangana. He has met me several times and requested more electric buses,' the minister said, implying that Karnataka's Congress leadership had been comparatively disengaged.
Sapling Drive and Kudremukh Mining Row
The Union Minister also took aim at the state government's tree-planting campaign, alleging that 15 lakh saplings claimed to have been planted were done so haphazardly. 'They have planted them as though they were transplanting paddy seedlings. And these are the people who claim to be protecting forests,' Kumaraswamy remarked sarcastically. On the industrial front, he alleged that the Karnataka government had been creating hurdles for Kudremukh Iron Ore Company (KIOCL) mining operations, including blocking mining in blocks allotted by the state itself after collecting the required payments. 'As a result, a prominent company like Kudremukh faces the threat of collapse and thousands of workers risk losing their livelihoods. If such a situation arises, the state government alone will be directly responsible,' he warned.
Political Context
The press conference was attended by Lok Sabha MP Mallesh Babu, Legislative Council member T.A. Sharavana, former MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy, and senior leader Prakash, among others. The attack is the latest in an ongoing war of words between the Janata Dal (Secular)-BJP alliance at the Centre and the Congress-led state government in Karnataka. With the Andhra Pradesh model now positioned as a political benchmark, pressure is likely to mount on the Shivakumar administration to demonstrate a more proactive industrial outreach.
Point of View
He neutralises the easy counter-charge that this is mere BJP-Congress rivalry. The Kudremukh warning, however, is where rhetoric meets real consequence — if KIOCL operations stall, the political cost will be concrete and local, not abstract. Karnataka's Congress leadership will need to respond with specifics, not talking points, or risk ceding the narrative on industrial governance ahead of the next electoral cycle.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Kumaraswamy say about Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh?
Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said Karnataka has much to learn from Andhra Pradesh, arguing that Andhra's leaders set aside political differences to collectively pursue industrial development from the Centre. He made the remarks at a press conference in Bengaluru on 7 July 2025.
What is the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant revival package?
It is a special Central government package to revive the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, which Kumaraswamy attributed to sustained personal lobbying by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. The minister used it as an example of how proactive state engagement with the Union government yields industrial outcomes.
Why is Kudremukh Iron Ore Company at risk, according to Kumaraswamy?
Kumaraswamy alleged that the Karnataka Congress government has been blocking mining operations at Kudremukh Iron Ore Company (KIOCL), including in blocks allotted by the state itself after collecting payments. He warned this could lead to the company's collapse and the loss of thousands of workers' livelihoods.
How did Kumaraswamy use Telangana's Congress government in his argument?
He pointed out that Telangana's own Congress Chief Minister had met him multiple times to request more electric buses and a major steel plant, arguing that even a rival party's state government was more proactive than Karnataka's Congress administration in seeking Central support.
What allegations did Kumaraswamy make about Karnataka's tree-planting drive?
Kumaraswamy alleged that 15 lakh saplings claimed to have been planted by the Karnataka government were planted improperly — 'as though they were transplanting paddy seedlings' — and sarcastically questioned the government's credibility on forest protection.
