BENGALURU: Administrative reforms with stress on decentralisation and transparency find prominence in the BJP manifesto for the BBMP polls which was released on Sunday.
The party, which has been in power in the BBMP for the past five years, has preferred to bank on Prime Minister Modi’s image and programmes more than its own performance in the BBMP.
Modi’s Digital India, Swachh Bharat and solar energy programmes find mention in a big way in the manifesto.
Speaking to reporters after releasing the manifesto, Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ananth Kumar reiterated BJP’s commitment to ‘One Karnataka, One Bengaluru’.
He said Congress had no moral right to seek votes as the party was out to divide Bengaluru into three or five small corporations.
“The Congress had tried all the tricks to avoid elections to BBMP. When it is determined to dissolve the BBMP, what moral right does it have to seek votes in this election?” he asked.
Former deputy chief minister R Ashok demanded that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah clarify whether the government would divide the BBMP or not after the polls.
“Congress leaders are unfit to seek votes as they are preparing the ground to dissolve the BBMP and divide Bengaluru,” he alleged.
Govt Blamed for Missing Smart Tag
Union Minister Ananth Kumar blamed the state government for Bengaluru not making it to the list of planned Smart Cities. When asked whether the BJP which ruled BBMP for five years was not responsible for the city’s poor score on garbage disposal, revenue generation and other parameters fixed for the Smart City project, Ananth said the state had 14 months to rectify the situation. “The Congress government could have overcome those shortcomings in the 14 months it had,” he added.