R. Ashoka, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of the Opposition in Karnataka, on Wednesday, 20 May accused the Congress government of deliberately stalling the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections out of fear of electoral defeat, calling the delay a 'betrayal' of Bengaluru's citizens. Ashoka made the allegations at a press conference, outlining what he described as a pattern of political self-preservation at the cost of civic governance.

The Delay Allegation

Ashoka argued that had elections been conducted on the basis of the earlier 198 wards, the process would have been completed by now. He alleged that after Bengaluru was reorganised into five administrative zones, internal Congress surveys reportedly predicted defeat across all five regions — prompting the government to intentionally put off the polls.

He further claimed that Bengaluru in-charge Minister and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was unwilling to hold elections before the conclusion of the ongoing leadership transition involving the Chief Minister's post within the Congress party. 'If the Congress is confident of winning, why is it avoiding elections?' Ashoka questioned.

Court Deadline and Election Commission

Ashoka noted that a court had issued a fresh final deadline for conducting the GBA elections and urged the government to announce the poll schedule without further delay. He added that the BJP had already written formally to the Election Commission of India (ECI) requesting immediate conduct of the elections. He dismissed the government's references to surveys and SIR exercises as convenient excuses. 'If there was genuine intent to conduct elections, these issues would not have become obstacles,' he said.

Civic Failures and Price Hikes

The BJP leader alleged that internal Congress infighting had led to a deterioration of civic conditions in the city, pointing to garbage accumulation and stalled development works. He accused the Congress government of burdening residents through successive price hikes — covering milk prices, electricity tariffs, alcohol taxes, and property taxes — alongside the rollout of the new khata system. 'Brand Bengaluru and Tunnel Bengaluru are being promoted, but today the city has become Garbage Bengaluru and Pothole Bengaluru,' he alleged.

Bidadi Land Acquisition Row

Turning to the proposed land acquisition in Bidadi, Ashoka alleged that the government was targeting fertile agricultural land known for coconut, mango, silk, and dairy production, amounting to what he called a betrayal of farmers. He claimed 'fake farmers' were being brought to government meetings to manufacture the appearance of consent, while genuine farmers had clearly opposed the move.

Ashoka pointed out that approximately 3,000 acres of government land was already available in Bidadi, and questioned why authorities were pursuing farmers' land instead. He alleged the Congress government, facing financial strain, was seeking large contracts and commissions through new development projects. 'This is development over the graves of farmers,' he said.

The Bengaluru Naming Controversy

Ashoka also took aim at what he called 'politics in the name of Bengaluru,' referring to suggestions by Congress leaders to attach the Bengaluru name to other districts. He termed Home Minister G. Parameshwara's reported suggestion of renaming Tumakuru as Bengaluru 'laughable,' accusing the party of seeking publicity through name changes rather than delivering development. He warned that misuse of Bengaluru's identity would deepen public anger ahead of the GBA polls, predicting a Congress defeat.