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Bengaluru Pothole Deadline: CM Siddu's "Ask Shivakumar" Sparks Political Drama

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah refused to comment on the expiring pothole repair deadline in Bengaluru. He directed all questions to Deputy CM Shivakumar, who holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio. This comes amid growing criticism from IT industry leaders about the city's poor road conditions. The political tension highlights internal conflicts within the ruling Congress party over infrastructure management.

Key Points: Siddaramaiah Defers Bengaluru Pothole Deadline Question to Shivakumar

  • CM Siddaramaiah deflects pothole deadline questions to Deputy CM Shivakumar
  • October 31 deadline set after fatal pothole accident killed banker
  • Shivakumar claims 10,000 potholes filled, cites BJP era's 20,000 pothole count
  • IT leaders criticize road infrastructure, warn of industries leaving state
2 min read

Ask Shivakumar, says CM Siddaramaiah on B'luru pothole deadline ending today

CM Siddaramaiah refuses comment on Bengaluru pothole deadline, directs queries to Deputy CM Shivakumar amid Congress infighting and industry criticism over road conditions.

"Please ask D.K. Shivakumar - Chief Minister Siddaramaiah"

Bengaluru, Oct 31

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has refused to comment on the deadline set for filling potholes in Bengaluru, which will end on Friday midnight, saying that it is for Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, who also holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, to answer.

CM Siddaramaiah made the statement at Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Friday. When reporters asked him about the expiry of the pothole repair deadline, he replied, “Please ask D.K. Shivakumar,” and walked away. The reaction by CM Siddaramaiah amid the infighting within the ruling Congress party has led to speculations and talks in state political corridors.

It can be noted that earlier, the Chief Minister had directed officials to fill all potholes in Bengaluru within a week, reiterating an earlier order that set October 31 as the deadline for completing road repairs within the city’s corporation limits. The directive came after a fatal accident on October 24 that claimed the life of a 26-year-old banker -- the second pothole-related death in less than a month.

Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar had stated that over 10,000 potholes had been filled so far in Bengaluru. He also referred to an affidavit filed by the previous BJP government led by former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, which mentioned that the city had approximately 20,000 potholes.

Shivakumar further said that the authorities had given the public and traffic police an opportunity to identify and report additional potholes, claiming that the government was working transparently.

Captains of the IT industry in Bengaluru, including Biocon Chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and former Infosys Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Mohandas Pai, have criticised the Congress-led Karnataka government over the city’s poor road infrastructure and expressed concern that industries were shifting to other states.

However, Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar maintained that IT companies cannot blackmail the government. Ministers M.B. Patil and Priyank Kharge also targeted Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, stating that she raises her voice only in Karnataka and that if she had made similar remarks in BJP-ruled states such as Uttar Pradesh or Maharashtra, she would have faced severe backlash.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
As a Bengaluru resident, I can confirm the pothole situation is terrible. They claim 10,000 filled but I see new ones appearing every day after rain. The quality of repair work is pathetic - just temporary fixes that wash away in next shower.
K
Kiran H
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is absolutely right to speak up. IT companies bring so much revenue to Karnataka, and they deserve good infrastructure. Instead of threatening them, government should listen and act. 🏢
M
Michael C
Having lived in Bengaluru for 3 years, the road infrastructure is indeed concerning. The finger-pointing between CM and Deputy CM shows lack of coordination in government. Hope they resolve this quickly for citizens' sake.
A
Aditya G
Both BJP and Congress governments have failed Bengaluru. The problem is systemic corruption in road contracts. Until we fix the tendering process and ensure quality control, this cycle will continue every monsoon. 💸
S
Sarah B
My heart goes out to the family of the 26-year-old banker who lost his life. No family should suffer like this because of government negligence. This isn't about politics - it's about basic civic responsibility. 🙏
V
Vikram M
While I'm critical of the government's response,

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