BJP leaders skip GBA meeting, drawing criticism from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday criticized Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders for skipping the meeting of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), saying their absence demonstrates a lack of commitment toward the city’s development. He argued that the boycott effectively portrays the BJP as being against Bengaluru’s progress. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said that if the BJP truly cared about the welfare of Bengaluru, its members would have participated in the meeting and contributed their views. He emphasized that the GBA serves as a democratic platform for decentralized governance, and the BJP’s non-participation reflects its opposition to the very idea of decentralization.
The Chief Minister also reminded that it was the BJP that had initially supported the proposal to divide Bengaluru administratively to ensure better management and public services. “They were the first to advocate for administrative decentralization when the city began expanding rapidly. But now they are opposing it,” he said. Siddaramaiah further asserted that the BJP’s boycott exposes its double standards on urban governance and its lack of genuine interest in the city’s long-term growth. He added that the party’s recent actions show that there is no question of the BJP returning to power in the state.
Political observers note that the controversy underscores the ongoing friction between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP over urban planning and decentralization in Bengaluru, a city struggling to balance expansion with efficient governance.
