Bengaluru rains: Political slugfest erupts as city comes to a standstill

By Admin

20 May, 2025

The Silicon Valley of India turned into a soggy spectacle overnight as torrential rains lashed Bengaluru, flooding streets, stranding residents, and exposing deep cracks in the city’s urban infrastructure. The downpour, one of the heaviest in recent years, triggered not just traffic snarls and waterlogging but also an all-out political war between Karnataka’s ruling Congress and the opposition parties.

According to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), the Bengaluru Urban observatory recorded 132 mm of rainfall, while Somasettihalli in Bengaluru North received 119 mm. In Horamavu’s Sai Layout, rescue teams deployed boats to evacuate residents as floodwaters rose to knee-to-waist levels. The city's tech hubs and residential zones resembled Venice more than a metropolitan city, prompting severe public outrage and intense political criticism.

Opposition Slams the Government

Leading the charge, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka launched a scathing attack on Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who also serves as the nodal minister for Bengaluru’s development. “What Karnataka Congress promised: Brand Bengaluru, what they delivered: Beach Bengaluru,” Ashoka quipped, accusing Shivakumar of focusing more on political interests, like his brother DK Suresh’s Milk Union Elections, rather than the city’s urgent needs.

BJP leader Amit Malviya echoed these sentiments in a social media post: “Bengaluru has been turned into Venice after just one spell of rain. The Congress’s apathy has ruined Silicon City. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar have no vision for this global city other than using it as an ATM to fill their coffers.”

Former CM and Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy also criticized the Congress government, mocking the recently implemented Greater Bengaluru Governance Act. “Greater Bengaluru sinks when it rains heavily and floats when it rains lightly,” he said. Accusing the government of corruption, he added, “It’s not ‘Greater Bengaluru’ anymore. It’s ‘Looters’ Bengaluru’.”

He questioned the misuse of public funds, highlighting potholes and open drains: “There’s not even soil to fill a pothole, but tenders worth thousands of crores are floated for tunnel roads. Do they think people are lifeless stones who won’t protest?”

MLA C.N. Ashwath Narayan joined in, declaring, “Crores spent. Zero results. Last night’s rains didn’t expose Bengaluru’s infrastructure, they exposed DK Shivakumar’s track record of the last two years of doing nothing.”

BJP General Secretary Sunil Kumar Karkala demanded transparency, urging the government to publish a white paper detailing actual expenditure on infrastructure. “Let citizens visit traffic hotspots like Silk Board to see the ground reality,” he said.

BJP spokesperson Ashwath Narayan Gowda blamed the administration for ignoring early warnings about the downpour. “Despite the forecast predicting heavy rains a week ago, no preparation was done. Bengaluru has gone from ‘Brand Bengaluru’ to ‘Submerged Bengaluru’,” he remarked.

He added that despite contributing the highest tax revenue in the state, Bengaluru was seeing no return in terms of infrastructure investment. “No major development work has been undertaken in the past two years,” he said.

Government Defends Its Stand

Amidst the storm of accusations, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar defended the administration's actions. “I’ve been in continuous touch with the concerned officers and I’m closely monitoring the situation,” he posted on social media. “I remain committed to Bengaluru — working round the clock to address challenges and ensure relief.”

Shivakumar acknowledged that the city's civic woes were long-standing and transcended political regimes. “Let us be clear: the issues we face today are not new. They have been ignored for years, across governments and administrations. The only difference now is, we are working to solve them with long-term, sustainable solutions,” he said.

“To my fellow Bengalureans, I am one among you. I understand your concerns, I share your frustration, and I assure you of my commitment to resolving them. I stand with you,” he added.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah personally monitored the situation from the BBMP War Room. He received updates from BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath and issued directives for urgent relief and response measures. According to the CM’s office, Siddaramaiah instructed officials of flood-affected areas to act immediately and ensure safety and aid to all residents.

He was joined by Deputy Chief Ministers D.K. Shivakumar and K.J. George, Chief Secretary Dr. Shalini Rajneesh, and several MLAs and political secretaries in an emergency meeting to review the crisis and coordinate relief efforts.

Conclusion

As Bengaluru wades through another season of monsoon mismanagement, its citizens are left wondering whether political point-scoring will ever give way to meaningful urban planning. While parties engage in blame games, the city’s tech-driven dreams are getting drenched in neglect. For Bengalureans, the question remains: Will governance ever take priority over politics?