Bengaluru, July 11: Karnataka Legislative Council’s opposition leader and senior BJP figure, Chalawadi Narayanaswamy, has called on the state government to respect the Supreme Court‘s directives and conduct elections for the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).
During a press conference at the state BJP headquarters, Narayanaswamy accused the Congress government of delaying the elections out of fear of losing. He emphasized that residents of Bengaluru have been waiting for local body elections for a long time.
“The government must adhere to the Supreme Court’s orders and hold the GBA elections,” he stated. He alleged that the Congress government has multiple reasons to postpone the elections. Bengaluru is grappling with poor infrastructure, pothole-ridden roads, waste management issues, and flooding during rains. “The government fears facing the voters,” he added.
Narayanaswamy accused the Congress government of attempting to enhance its electoral prospects by dividing Bengaluru into five municipal corporations under the GBA framework. “They have split Kempegowda’s Bengaluru into five corporations, hoping that even if they lose in some areas, they can still maintain representation by winning one or two corporations,” he claimed.
He also criticized the state government’s request to the Supreme Court for an extension to conduct elections, asserting that the ongoing ‘special intensive revision’ of the voter list is merely an excuse. “They know that if elections are held now, winning even one corporation will be difficult. Hence, they approached the Supreme Court citing the SIR,” he said.
Defending the voter list revision, Narayanaswamy stated that the SIR does not strip anyone of their voting rights but aims to remove ineligible names from the voter list. “How can deceased individuals remain on the voter list? They must be removed. Similarly, names of individuals included without valid documents should also be eliminated,” he argued.
He alleged that forms were being filled in groups during the SIR process and that the BJP has brought this issue to the attention of the Election Commission. Booth-level officers and agents should verify the lists door-to-door.
Discussing Bengaluru’s infrastructure, Narayanaswamy accused the Congress government of neglecting the city’s development over the past three years. “Development in Bengaluru is not something that can be discussed endlessly; it requires action. Have they been asleep for the last three years? The current Chief Minister was in charge of Bengaluru; why did he not address these issues?” he questioned.
He urged the government to promptly fix potholes before the monsoon intensifies, improve the drainage system, and clear waste. “If heavy rains continue, people may have to travel by boat. The government must ensure that drainage systems are clean and water can flow easily,” he warned.
The BJP leader also alleged widespread corruption in road repair works. He noted that while pothole repairs used to be inexpensive, recent projects have incurred exorbitant costs. “People say that fixing one pothole costs nearly 100,000 rupees. The Chief Minister should order an investigation into these allegations. Such an amount could dig a well in rural areas and provide drinking water,” he stated.
Narayanaswamy appealed to the Congress government to focus not just on Bengaluru but on the development of the entire state. He questioned the state’s authority to implement measures related to the issuance of Permanent Residency Certificates (PRC). “Who are they to issue Permanent Residency Certificates? Permanent residency is directly linked to citizenship and does not fall under the state government’s jurisdiction,” he concluded.
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