Stung by criticism over Bengalurus crumbling infrastructure, BJP launches outreach program

[ad_1]

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai meets TV Mohandas Pai; BL Santhosh meets representatives of RWAs

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai meets TV Mohandas Pai; BL Santhosh meets representatives of RWAs

In a damage-control exercise, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its government in the State have launched a program to reach out to opinion makers in Bengaluru IT industry bigwigs and select representatives of the residents welfare associations (RWAs). This follows the recent barrage of criticism against the government over flooding and crumbling infrastructure in the city. The recently concluded Assembly session also saw the Opposition raise the issue to corner the government. The outreach program also comes in the run-up to the civic polls and Assembly elections.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday met TV Mohandas Pai, formerly associated with Infosys, who had been critical of the State government of late and had even tweeted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Chief Ministers Office tweeted saying, Mr. Pai thanked the chief minister for the initiative taken to improve Bengaluru infrastructure. Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Pai termed the meeting positive.

The Chief Minister explained the focus on administrative reforms in the city, making civic administration more decentralized. He has also given enough funds to fill potholes. I asked him to finish all the pending projects like flyovers at Shivananda Circle and Ejipura and take up a massive cleaning drive across the city, to which he responded positively, Mr. Pai said. When quizzed over statements of some of the ruling party members that criticism was indeed hurting Brand Bengaluru, Mr. Pai said criticism by civil society was a reflection of a vibrant democracy. He said he stressed the need to develop Hubballi Dharwad as an economic center in North Karnataka.

Meanwhile, BL Santhosh, BJP national general secretary (Organization), met with select representatives of the RWAs in the city in an outreach program organized by the BJP Economic Cell, Karnataka. Vikram Rai, secretary, Bengaluru Apartment Federation (BAF), who was part of the closed-door meeting, said Mr. Santhosh stressed the track record of the State government in implementing administrative reforms in city governance. He said the parties and the State governments priorities for city administration were infrastructure, sustainability, and urban poor. The recent floods and gaps in infrastructure came up repeatedly during the session. He gave us a patient hearing and promised to try to communicate to the government the issues we have raised, he said.

Residents of Gandhi Bazaar, who are objecting to white-topping and pedestrianization of Gandhi Bazaar Main Road, also met him separately. When we raised our objections to the project, he cited the example of Chandini Chowk in Delhi and said we cannot oppose development. We made a presentation and he said he would get back to us soon, said NS Mukunda of Bengaluru Praja Vedike, who was part of the meeting.

[ad_2]