Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has attributed Bengaluru’s worsening pothole crisis to the previous BJP government, calling current criticism politically motivated.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has attributed Bengaluru’s worsening pothole crisis to the previous BJP government, asserting that road deterioration is a statewide issue, not limited to the city. Speaking to reporters in Patna on Wednesday during a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, Shivakumar said the BJP bears responsibility for poor road management during its tenure, dismissing criticism of the current administration as politically motivated.
“The BJP will never be happy. All these potholes originated under their regime. They are responsible for the bad administration of roads in Karnataka,” Shivakumar remarked, according to ANI. He emphasized that Bengaluru is not unique, citing similar road problems in Delhi and Mumbai, and called the intense scrutiny of Bengaluru selective and biased.
Shivakumar also highlighted the state government’s ongoing remedial measures, noting that approximately 1,000 potholes are being repaired daily in Bengaluru. He urged citizens and opposition leaders to acknowledge the continuous work being done to improve infrastructure, stressing that criticism should not overshadow active governance.
The remarks come amid mounting public and political backlash over Bengaluru’s deteriorating roads, which have drawn attention from residents, industry leaders, and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who recently called the city the “city of potholes” and blamed the Congress-led government. Shivakumar’s comments seek to shift the focus onto past administrative failures while underscoring ongoing efforts to restore road conditions across the state.
He reiterated that road maintenance is a complex, ongoing challenge affecting many urban centers, and Bengaluru’s issues are part of broader infrastructural struggles seen across India.