BENGALURU: Identifying traffic congestion, health and housing as the main focus areas for action, the ruling Congress party on Monday released its manifesto for the BBMP polls with a surfeit of promises which include construction of elevated roads, monorail, multi-storied parking complexes, four super-speciality hospitals and free breakfast for students of corporation schools.
However the 16-page manifesto had few new promises as most of them like that of elevated roads, multi-storied parking complexes, parks in all wards, monorail, circular rail had figured in the party’s manifesto presented for the Assembly election in 2013 and the BBMP polls of 2010.
Speaking to reporters after releasing the manifesto, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “The promises we have made are practical and they will be fulfilled over the next five years, if we come to power, which we will,” he said.
Not a Referendum
However, the Chief Minister was clueless about the cost of implementing the promises. “The cost would be known only after preparing a detailed project report for all the projects promised. But all the promises are practical and we will deliver them in five years,” he said.
The Chief Minister refused to take the BBMP polls as a referendum on his government.
“City corporation polls and panchayat polls cannot be seen as referendum for the government. The issues here are very local,” he said.
Committed to split BBMP
Siddaramaiah on Monday reiterated his government’s commitment to dissolve BBMP and have two or more smaller city corporations. When reporters asked whether the city would witness one more election as as the President gives his nod for the bill for dissolving BBMP, Siddaramaiah said, “I will not reply to hypothetical questions. We are committed to have smaller city corporations for Bengaluru. However a suitable decision will be taken under the legal framework,” he said.