BENGALURU: Ruling out a pre-poll alliance ahead of forthcoming elections to BBMP, leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar said the BJP would bank on the anti-incumbency factor of the state government to return to power.
People's ire against the five-year rule of BJP in Bengaluru was less when compared with disenchantment among citizens about the state government, claimed Mr Jagadish Shettar, adding that the demolition drive against buildings on tank beds and the mysterious death of IAS officer D K Ravi would definitely help his party in polls to the civic body.
“It is true that we could not match the expectations of people of Bengaluru for various reasons over the last five years but we did try to develop the city to the best of our ability.
However, the Chief Minister is blaming the BJP for all the ills that plagued the city over the last five years,” he told Deccan Chronicle.
Mr Shettar said as of now, BJP has decided to contest BBMP polls on its own. In 2010, the party captured power on its own, and therefore the leaders are optimistic of a similar feat in forthcoming elections, too.
Two rounds of discussions have been held to draw up a strategy to win the elections and none has come forward with the idea of forging an alliance with other like-minded parties, he added.
The former chief minister claimed that citizens were unhappy about the manner in which the government handled the demolition drive in Bengaluru, leaving hundreds of families without shelter for no fault of theirs.
Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) was equally responsible for the current mess and officials concerned should have been booked by this time. There was an undercurrent against the Congress which would come to the fore during BBMP polls, he added.
When contacted, Mr Ashwanthnarayanagowda, Member of Legislative Council, said he was not aware of any talks within the party on having alliance or seat adjustment with other parties in particular Janata Dal (S) which had extended “issue-based” support to the party in the Assembly and the Council.
