Bengaluru: CM Siddaramaiah slams BJP for boycotting Greater Bengaluru Authority meeting

Bengaluru : Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched a sharp attack on the BJP for boycotting the first meeting of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), accusing the party of being anti-development and against decentralization of power.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Saturday, Siddaramaiah expressed his displeasure, saying the BJP could have participated in the meeting and expressed their views democratically instead of remaining absent. “The Greater Bengaluru Authority is a democratic platform. If the BJP truly cared about Bengaluru’s development, they would not have skipped the meeting. Their boycott clearly shows their opposition to decentralization,” he remarked. https://x.com/siddaramaiah/status/1977010660921016461

The Chief Minister also reminded that it was the BJP itself that first proposed dividing the Bengaluru civic administration to ensure better governance and service delivery to citizens. “The BJP leaders were the ones who argued that Bengaluru should be divided for efficient administration. But now they oppose it. Their double standards expose their political hypocrisy. There is no question of the BJP returning to power,” Siddaramaiah said bluntly.

He reiterated his stand on his official X (Twitter) handle, challenging BJP leaders to prove their concern for Bengaluru’s development by attending such meetings instead of resorting to political theatrics. “If BJP leaders genuinely cared about Bengaluru’s progress, they would have participated in the GBA’s first meeting. By boycotting it, they have once again shown they are against decentralization of power,” Siddaramaiah posted.

Meanwhile, the BJP defended its decision to boycott the GBA meeting, alleging that the state government has stripped powers from existing civic bodies and concentrated them under the Chief Minister. “The move is unconstitutional as no powers have been given to elected councils. As a responsible opposition, we chose to stay away,” BJP leaders said.

The state government has appointed commissioners and deputy commissioners for the five municipal bodies within Greater Bengaluru. Siddaramaiah chairs the new authority, with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar serving as vice-chairman. The GBA issue has now escalated into a fresh political clash between the ruling Congress and the opposition BJP.