Karnataka CM Shivakumar dismisses talk of rift with Siddaramaiah; says focus is on polls, governance

Bengaluru: Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday rejected speculation of differences with Congress Working Committee member Siddaramaiah, saying there was "neither a big rift nor a small rift" between them.

The CM accused his political opponents of trying to create the impression of discord within the party.

"Siddaramaiah is our leader. Some people are attempting to portray matters differently and create an atmosphere suggesting there is friction between us," Shivakumar told reporters in Bengaluru.


Referring to his recent meeting with Siddaramaiah, he said he met the former chief minister to discuss organisational and governance issues ahead of the local body polls and to extend festival greetings.

"In politics, there will always be detractors and opponents. Siddaramaiah is our leader, and there is no issue between us," he said.

ELEVATED CORRIDOR

Shivakumar defended his government's proposed elevated corridor and tunnel road projects, saying Bengaluru's worsening traffic congestion required major infrastructure interventions.

"Whenever we propose a tunnel road, the opposition objects. When we propose an elevated corridor, they object again. If Bengaluru's traffic problems have to be solved, we need alternative routes either above the ground or below it," he said.

The chief minister said the government had sought defence land near Mekhri Circle to facilitate road widening and redesign traffic movement in the area. He said plans envisaged a revamped rotary and ring-road system to improve traffic flow while minimising disruptions during construction.

Shivakumar asserted that traffic would not be completely halted while the work was under way, adding that traffic police and Bengaluru Development Authority officials had already reviewed the proposals.

He said alternative roads would be developed to reduce inconvenience to commuters during construction and claimed that opposition parties were resisting infrastructure projects for political reasons.

"The opposition's only job seems to be to oppose. They oppose development and every project we undertake because they cannot digest the pace at which our government is working," he said.

The chief minister also said the proposed corridor near Mekhri Circle would be a standalone project, separate from the larger tunnel road initiative. The short tunnel stretch is being planned primarily to ease congestion in the Hebbal corridor and improve traffic dispersal across northern Bengaluru, he added.