Bengaluru BJP MLAs and MPs meet CM, demand higher allocation of funds for city in budget
Bengaluru (PTI): A delegation of BJP legislators and MPs from Bengaluru on Friday met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and sought higher allocation of funds in the upcoming state budget for the city's development.
The delegation led by party state BJP President B Y Vijayendra and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka asked for allocation of Rs 150 crore for each Assembly segment in the city.
Relook into the Metro fare hike, allocation of funds for constituencies represented by first time MLAs, and holding of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) polls at the earliest are among the issues that were highlighted at the meeting.
Siddaramaiah who also holds the finance portfolio is scheduled to present the budget for 2025-26 on March 7, marking his 16th budget.
"All our MLAs, MPs, MLCs and district unit presidents from Bengaluru met the Chief Minister and requested for more funds in the budget, funds to the legislators for the development of their constituencies, keeping in mind the development of Bengaluru," Vijayendra said.
Speaking to reporters here after meeting the CM, he said, when BJP's B S Yediyurappa and Basavarj Bommai were Chief Ministers earlier Rs 6,000-8,000 crores were given to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for the development of Bengaluru in every budget.
"No such allocations have been made for Bengaluru in the last two years, so we have requested Rs 6,000-8,000 crores for Bengaluru city in the budget," he said.
Noting that infrastructure projects like flyovers and others are going on at a slow pace, the state BJP chief said, priority should be given for completion of such projects by allocating more funds for them.
He said, during the meeting, Bengaluru MPs PC Mohan and Tejasvi Surya suggested that the Chief Minister send necessary communication to the fare fixation committee to reduce the metro fare that was hiked recently.
"Requests were made to the CM for enhanced allocation in the budget for Bengaluru's development and to the constituencies represented by first time MLAs. We have also requested that the BBMP polls should be held at the earliest ," he said, adding that the CM has responded positively and has assured that he will ensure allocation of funds within limitations.
Claiming that never had such a plight come for Bengaluru and Rs 6,000-8,000 crore was allocated to the city in every budget. When BJP was in power allocations were made to the constituencies irrespective of the party of MLAs who represent them, he said.
"Keeping in mind Bengaluru's global and national reputation, we have urged the CM to give more funds to the city, and we are hopeful that the Chief Minister will consider it," he added.
Vijayendra in response to a question said, the party will discuss the proposal to divide BBMP into multiple corporations. "BBMP polls should not be postponed citing creation of Greater Bengaluru Authority as the reason," he said.
In July last year, the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill was referred to a joint select committee headed by Shivajinagar Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad. The committee submitted its report to Assembly Speaker U T Kharder on Monday.
As per the report, the IT city may be divided into multiple corporations, replacing the BBMP, which will report to a central body known as the Greater Bengaluru Authority, official sources said.
Vijayendra said the party will also raise the issue of an "unscientific" tunnel road that has been planned in the city.
Ashoka said, with Bengaluru's development stunted for the last two years the delegation of BJP legislators have met the Chief Minister and demanded for allocation of more funds in the budget.
"We have told the CM that allocation of funds to the constituencies of all legislators including those from the opposition parties is crucial for the all round development of the city and the state. We have told him how allocation was made without any discrimination when BJP was in power and asked him on why discrimination is being shown now," he said.
He also said that they have urged the CM to provide Rs 120-150 crore funds for every constituency, so that development works can go on for at least a couple of years.
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UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
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Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
