'What do you call an organism that lives off another and benefits: Priyank Kharge hits back at Nara Lokesh over IT hub pitch
Published on: Oct. 2, 2025, 2:09 p.m. | Source: Times of India
Karnataka minister for Electronics and IT/BT, Priyank Kharge, criticised Andhra Pradesh IT minister and TDP leader Nara Lokesh on Thursday after Lokesh suggested Anantapur as an alternative IT hub to Bengaluru. Kharge, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), described Lokesh’s pitch as “desperate scavenging”, writing, \"It is natural for weaker ecosystems to feed off stronger ones. Nothing wrong with that, but when it turns into desperate scavenging, it shows more weakness than strength.\" The Karnataka minister went on to highlight Bengaluru’s growth prospects. He said the city’s GDP is projected to rise by 8.5% until 2035, making it “the world’s fastest-growing city”, and predicted a 5% growth in its property market in 2025. Citing the Savills Growth Hubs Index, Kharge added that Bengaluru is set to outpace global counterparts in urbanisation, economic growth, and innovation by 2033. He further claimed that the urban agglomeration is estimated to house around 14.40 million people in 2025, growing at an annual rate of approximately 2.76%. Kharge also emphasised the city’s capacity to absorb migrants, writing, \"We are one of the highest migrant absorption cities in India. The Government is and will continue to build infrastructure for the rapid growth we are experiencing.\" In his post, Priyank Kharge added a pointed rhetorical question aimed at Andhra Pradesh’s IT minister, writing: \"BTW, what is an organism that lives in or on an organism of another species and benefits by deriving nutrients at the other's expense called?\"
