BJP smells poll opportunity in rain-hit Bengaluru

The battle for the 28 assembly constituencies in Bengaluru city and the urban district has hotted up with just seven months to go for the state elections in April-May.

The ruling Congress in the state was on the upswing with the introduction of highly-subsidized Indira canteens on August 16, which have got a thumbs up from the poor, the low income groups and the migrant labour in the city.

But, the unprecedented rains that the city has gone under over the past 40 days which has resulted in 10 deaths, huge flooding, washing away of road surfaces and endless traffic jams, has turned the tide against them.

“Indira canteens are also an idea that they have stolen from Tamil Nadu. Look at the condition of the roads, the drains. Does this government understand the problems the poor are facing because of rains? Is anything at all being done about it?” asks a furious Neelamma at Lakkasandra.

“They come with folded hands when elections are on. Otherwise, we are left to fend for ourselves like this. Why should we vote for them?” her neighbour Manjula chimes in.

Cashing in on this mood, the BJP, led by state president and their CM face, BS Yeddyurappa, went on a city tour. Buoyed by the flood of such complaints that he received, he tweeted: “Visited rain-affected areas of Bengaluru, BBMP, BDA under Congress have ruined the capital city. Sh. @siddaramaiah has proved he is visionless.”

Both Yeddyurappa and JD(S) national president HD Deve Gowda visited the families of the dead and gave cash compensation.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who also visited the family of some of the dead, remarked: “What about the shortcomings of the previous BJP government? I do not want to play politics over the dead.”

Siddaramaiah is aware that the mood of the people is currently very much against his government.

He called a meeting of all Congress MLAs, corporators and leaders associated with the city to discuss the situation. He also launched a tirade in a closeddoor meeting with the contractors, demanding some accountability and responsibility on the state of the city’s roads that they have laid out.

“We are only waiting for the rains to subside. After that, a large number of developmental works, particularly roads, will be taken up on a war-footing. We will work hard to ensure that this mood changes,” a Congress legislator said told ET.

The BJP, however, is very certain that this has given them the upper hand.

“The rains and the Congress’ corruption, even their partner in the city corporation, JD(S), has highlighted, will help us. We will get majority of Bengaluru seats, no doubt about it” a BJP legislator said.