Bengaluru, May 20 (IANS) Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka on Wednesday accused the Congress government of deliberately postponing the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections due to fear of defeat and termed it a “betrayal” of the people of Bengaluru.

Addressing a press conference, Ashoka said that if elections had been conducted on the basis of the earlier 198 wards, the process would have already been completed.

However, after the decision to divide Bengaluru into five administrative zones, internal Congress surveys reportedly indicated defeat in all five regions, prompting the government to intentionally delay the elections, he alleged.

Ashoka further claimed that Bengaluru in-charge Minister and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar did not want the elections to be held before the completion of the leadership transition process involving the Chief Minister’s post within the Congress party.

He alleged that infighting within the Congress had resulted in piles of garbage across Bengaluru and stalled developmental works in the city.

“The Congress government is directly responsible for the situation,” he charged.

Stating that the court had once again given a final deadline for conducting the elections, Ashoka urged the government to announce the polls immediately, adding that the BJP was fully prepared for the elections.

The BJP leader alleged that after internal surveys predicted defeat, the Congress had started blaming opposition parties for the delay. He said the BJP had officially written to the Election Commission earlier seeking immediate conduct of the elections.

“If the Congress is confident of winning, why is it avoiding elections?” he questioned, adding that blaming the opposition for every issue had become a habit of the ruling party.

Ashoka dismissed the government’s references to surveys and SIR exercises as excuses to postpone the polls.

“If there was genuine intent to conduct elections, these issues would not have become obstacles,” he said.

He also accused the government of burdening citizens through repeated price hikes, including milk prices, electricity tariffs, alcohol taxes and property taxes, along with the implementation of the new khata system.

According to him, growing public anger against the Congress in Bengaluru was the primary reason behind the delay in the elections.

Turning his attention to the proposed land acquisition in Bidadi, Ashoka alleged that the government was betraying farmers by attempting to acquire fertile agricultural land known for coconut, mango, silk and dairy production.

He claimed that “fake farmers” were being brought to government meetings to create the impression of support for the project, while genuine farmers had clearly opposed the land acquisition move.

“The BJP has supported the struggle of Bidadi farmers from the beginning and will continue to stand with them,” he said.

Questioning the need for new layouts, Ashoka pointed out that lakhs of flats remained vacant in existing projects such as Kempegowda Layout and Shivaram Karanth Layout.

He also claimed that nearly 3,000 acres of government land was available in Bidadi and accused the government of targeting farmers’ land instead.

He alleged that the Congress government, facing financial difficulties, was pursuing land acquisition to generate large contracts and collect commissions through new development projects.

“This is development over the graves of farmers,” he remarked.

Ashoka also criticised what he termed “politics in the name of Bengaluru”.

Referring to recent remarks by leaders seeking to attach the Bengaluru name to other regions, he said merely adding “Bengaluru” to district names would not bring development.

He termed Home Minister G. Parameshwara’s reported suggestion of naming Tumakuru as Bengaluru “laughable” and accused the Congress of trying to gain publicity through name changes instead of focusing on development.

“Brand Bengaluru and Tunnel Bengaluru are being promoted, but today the city has become Garbage Bengaluru and Pothole Bengaluru,” he alleged.

Ashoka warned that misuse of Bengaluru’s name and resources for the development of other districts would anger city residents and predicted that the Congress would face defeat in the upcoming GBA elections.

–IANS

mka/pgh