The Hindu Business Line : AP result — Mixed reactions from technology sector

THE rout of technology savvy Chief Minister, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, and the emergence of a Congress-led Government has thrown up mixed reactions from the new technology company leaders.

While some expressed concern about the bogey of the Telangana causing some investment concerns, others maintained there would be no change.

Mr Jalagam Venkat Rao, the technocrat-turned politician and son of former Chief Minister, Mr Jalagam Vengal Rao, who won from Sattupalli in Khammam district, told Business Line that he was waiting for this opportunity to take technology to the grassroots.

"The challenge for a person like me is to relate technology to the people since a lot of this stuff is confined to books and not striking a chord with people's needs. Over the last eight months since I took to campaigning, I have studied what people require in rural areas and strive to ensure that they get the benefits of IT," Mr Rao, founder of the Hyderabad-based software firm V.J. Info, said.

The Managing Director of Adaptec India, Mr Raghu Alamsetti, said that the result itself was surprising. While we did anticipate some changes, the kind of mandate we have witnessed sweeping off the TDP was not on the expected lines. The only thing that we are concerned about is whether the issue of Telangana would turn emotive and have impact on the investment front. One thing investors want is that investments need to be safe. With the issue of separate Statehood, this has the potential to deter some of the prospective investors. Apart from a stable leadership, the other issue that is of concern is with regard to the promises made for the power sector. One wonders whether it is financially viable to match up to these promises and could possibly impact the overall investment climate.

The Chief Executive Officer of Pramati Technologies, Mr Jay Raghavender Pullur, said: "we were happy with Mr Chandrababu Naidu as he was doing good work for the industry. I am sure that there is enough momentum and expect this to continue and the new Government would build on the good work initiated by the Naidu Government. Before the entry of the Naidu Government, there was hardly any infrastructure for IT here, now there is steady flow of MNCs and we hope the new Government would continue the good work."

The Managing Director of SDG Software, Mr Suheim Sheik, said: "the new Government would not change the momentum of the technology sector and this will continue. If you look at technology sector, a lot of good work has been done by the Congress Government in Karnataka. So, with the Congress Government, there might not be much change in the overall approach to the sector."

The Hyderabad Software Exporters Association (HYSEA) hoped that the new Government would continue to support the IT industry, which took roots in the State.

"I believe that economics will prevail over politics. I don't think there will be any reversals in policy decisions (with regard to industry)," Mr Kedarnath Udiyavar, President of HYSEA, said.

Our Mumbai Bureau adds: The defeat of the Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP will not have any adverse impact on information technology,said Mr Kiran Karnik, President, National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom).

"Mr Naidu has done on excellent job of developing Andhra Pradesh, and Hyderabad in particular, as an attractive IT destination. He has played an important role in promoting not only Andhra Pradesh but the whole IT industry," explained the Nasscom President.

According to Mr Karnik, Mr Naidu helped to create an enabling environment for the industry to flourish in India and has endeavoured to put Information Technology to use for improving governance.

However, Mr Karnik sounded optimistic about working with other political parties to expand the IT industry"We have had such positive responses across the political spectrum, and we are confident that the industry will continue to receive the same support in future as well, from all political parties. We are certain that the new government in Andhra Pradesh will continue its strong promotion of the IT industry and NASSCOM looks forward to working closely with them."

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