Bengaluru rains: Most flooded areas represented by BJP MLAs, says DK Shivakumar

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, along with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, visited flood-affected areas around the city on May 21.

Karnataka deputy CM and Bengaluru development minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday said that most of the flood-affected areas in Bengaluru are represented by BJP MLAs.

Speaking to reporters after inspecting rain-affected localities, Shivakumar said, “Most of the areas which witnessed floods are represented by BJP MLAs. This shows what they have done—or rather, haven’t done. Congress MLAs have resolved most of the flooding issues in their constituencies.”

The BJP currently holds 16 of Bengaluru’s 28 assembly constituencies, while the Congress has 12 MLAs.

Taking a swipe at the BJP for not taking adequate measures to address the city’s recurring flood woes, Shivakumar said the Congress-led government is working towards a permanent solution.

“The Opposition is busy criticising—let them. We are focused on finding lasting solutions to Bengaluru’s rain-related problems. In the end, criticism fades, but good work remains,” he said.

“The BJP is criticising us now, but what did they do when they were in power?” he asked. “I’ve instructed officials to remove encroachments, but in some cases, court stays have stalled action. The BJP didn’t act on these encroachments at all.”

Shivakumar said the government had identified 211 flood-prone areas in Bengaluru, of which 166 issues have been resolved. “Work is pending in 44 locations, and we are addressing those as well. The number of flood-affected areas has already come down. We are determined to give Bengaluru a new shape—and we will,” he added. On the ongoing encroachment clearance drive, he said, “70 percent of the work is done, and we are continuing with the rest.”