BJP MLAs oppose division of Bengaluru, tunnel project

The BJP lawmakers, representing Bengaluru, decided on Saturday to oppose the municipal division of the city and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s pet tunnel road project.

Most saffron lawmakers attended a meeting chaired by Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka and BJP state president B Y Vijayendra to discuss the city’s issues. 

Speaking to reporters, Ashoka said the government has “arbitrarily” split Bengaluru into five municipal corporations. The BJP is planning a series of protests against this, he said. 

“Congress would have lost the BBMP election. By creating five corporations, Congress hopes to win at least one or two when elections are held,” Ashoka, who represents Padmanabhanagar in the Legislative Assembly, said.

He added that the BJP would fight the government’s decision in court. “Citizens didn’t demand a division of Bengaluru.”

Ashoka also charged that the government planned to award the tunnel road project to “blacklisted” contractors.

“The toll on these tunnel roads will make them accessible only to the wealthy, offering no benefit to the common man. While the BJP supports development, it will oppose projects meant for looting money,” he said.  The BJP also discussed the Namma Metro’s decision to scale down its land requirement at Hebbal from 45 acres to just nine acres.

Ashoka said this issue will be raised in the Assembly.

He also said that the e-khata system is causing trouble for citizens. “Bengaluru should not be used for financial exploitation,” he said.  Vijayendra said Shivakumar is not making scientific decisions for the city, particularly the creation of five corporations and the tunnel road.

“Mumbai and other big cities have seen these experiments fail. We’ll oppose them,” he said, adding that the government floated tenders for the tunnel road project without any discussion on its pros and cons.