LoP Ashoka accuses Cong of delaying GBA elections, citing fear of defeat

The Leader of Opposition in Karnataka's Assembly, R Ashoka, accused the Congress government of delaying Bengaluru GBA elections due to fear of defeat, calling it a betrayal of the city's people.

Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka on Wednesday alleged that the Congress government is repeatedly postponing the GBA elections out of fear of defeat, calling it a ''betrayal of the people of Bengaluru.''.

He said that after dividing Bengaluru into five parts, internal Congress surveys reportedly showed the party would lose in all five corporations, leading the government to deliberately delay the elections.

He further claimed that Bengaluru in-charge Minister and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar does not want the elections held before the transfer of power to him as CM is complete.

''Due to infighting within Congress, no decision is being taken. Heaps of garbage are piling up across Bengaluru streets, and no development work is taking place. The Congress government is directly responsible for this situation. Since the court has once again given a final deadline, elections must be conducted within that time frame,'' Ashoka said.

Speaking to reporters, he said the BJP is fully prepared for the elections, and the government should announce the polls at the earliest.

Accusing the Congress of blaming opposition parties after realising through internal surveys that defeat is certain in the Greater Bengaluru Authority polls, Ashoka pointed out that the BJP had earlier written to the Election Commission requesting immediate elections.

''If they are confident of winning in surveys, why are they not conducting elections?'' he asked.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court extended the deadline to August 31 for holding the long-pending elections to the five city corporations under the GBA.

On January 12, the apex court had directed the Karnataka government and the State Election Commission to hold the polls for the Bengaluru civic body by June 30.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi extended the deadline to August 31 and made it clear that no further extension would be granted.

The order was passed after senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the Karnataka government, cited manpower shortages due to Census work and the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.

The tenure of the earlier elected body of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) expired on September 10, 2020, and since then, a government-appointed administrator has been handling its day-to-day affairs.

Ashoka said that citing SIR and the Census as reasons for postponing elections is ''merely a political strategy.''.

''If there is genuine intent to conduct elections, no issue is too big. Had elections been held on schedule, such a situation would not have arisen,'' he said.

He also accused the government of burdening people through milk price hikes, electricity tariff hikes, house tax hikes, and the new khata system, saying Bengaluru residents have turned against the Congress, which is why elections are being delayed.

Ashoka called the government's move to acquire land in Bidadi a ''betrayal of farmers,'' describing the area as fertile agricultural land rich in coconut, mango, silk, and dairy production.

He accused the government of attempting to encroach on such land and push farmers onto the streets.

The BJP leader was referring to the Rs 18,133-crore Greater Bengaluru Integrated Suburban Project at Bidadi in Bengaluru South district, approved in the April 30 Cabinet meeting.

The project will cover about 7,481 acres across nine villages in Bengaluru South district and Ramanagara taluk.

A section of farmers and local villagers have opposed the project and have been protesting against the land acquisition.

The LoP alleged that fake farmers were brought to government-organised meetings to create an impression of support, while real farmers have clearly stated that they will not give up their land.

He said the BJP has supported the Bidadi farmers' protest from the beginning and will continue to stand with them.

Ashoka questioned the need for the new project when lakhs of flats remain vacant around Bengaluru, including in Kempegowda Layout and Shivarama Karanth Layout.

He claimed there are around 3,000 acres of government land in Bidadi itself, yet the government is targeting farmers' land instead.

According to him, the government, being financially constrained, is pursuing land acquisition to generate thousands of crores through new tenders and collect commissions.

He called it ''development built over the graves of farmers.''.

Ashoka also mocked Home Minister G Parameshwara's statement demanding that Tumakuru be made part of Bengaluru.

Pointing out that after naming Ramanagara district as ''Bengaluru South,'' a competition has begun among ministers to attach the ''Bengaluru'' name to their own districts, he said, ''Naming places as Coastal Bengaluru, North Karnataka Bengaluru, Kolar Bengaluru, or Mandya Bengaluru will not bring development.''.

According to Ashoka, leaders ''who lack the capability to bring real development to their regions try to gain publicity by merely changing names.''.

''People will not appreciate simply using Bengaluru's name without allocating funds or bringing projects,'' he said, adding that once the BJP returns to power, the original names will be restored.

Ashoka also said Bengaluru Corporation funds cannot be used for the development of districts like Tumakuru or Ramanagara.

''If the Congress continues misusing Bengaluru's name, residents themselves will curse the party, and that curse will result in Congress losing the next GBA election,'' he added.

Parameshwara, however, had clarified on Wednesday that he did not propose merging Tumakuru with Bengaluru or renaming it ''Bengaluru North.''.

He said he was only referring to a concept aimed at promoting the district as part of the Bengaluru region to attract investment.