Chennai: Tamil Nadu Industries Minister T.R.B. Raja said that political factors played a major role in Google setting up its AI data centre in a neighbouring state instead of Tamil Nadu.

Participating in a debate in the State Assembly, AIADMK member Thangamani questioned why the state could not attract the investment despite Google's CEO being from Tamil Nadu. He also sought clarification on reports that Foxconn had denied plans to invest ₹15,000 crore in the state.

Responding to this, Minister Raja said, “It is wrong to say that Tamil Nadu did not invite Google. Everyone knows the politics involved. Google is not in China, so it is investing in India. We need to understand the global political scenario affecting such decisions.”

On the Foxconn issue, the Minister asserted that the company's ₹15,000 crore investment project in Tamil Nadu was on track. “During the last four and a half years of DMK rule, we have created 14,000 engineering jobs. False information about Foxconn's investment is being spread, which could demoralize Tamil Nadu's youth,” he said, urging restraint in making misleading statements about industrial investments.