Karnataka Pothole Politics: BJP Fills Craters as Congress Sets Repair Deadline
Karnataka's pothole war turns political as opposition protests statewide.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) staged widespread protests across Karnataka on Wednesday, slamming the Congress-led government under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah for the deplorable condition of roads riddled with potholes. From Bengaluru’s bustling streets to rural highways, the BJP took to filling potholes and staging ‘rasta roko’ (road blockade) demonstrations in nearly every assembly segment to highlight the state’s infrastructure crisis.
In Bengaluru, Leader of Opposition R Ashoka led a symbolic protest in Banashankari, joined by fellow MLAs and party workers, as they filled potholes to draw attention to the government’s inaction. “Roads across Karnataka, from villages to Bengaluru, have become death traps,” Ashoka told reporters, citing daily reports of accidents and injuries caused by poor road conditions. He accused the Siddaramaiah government of financial mismanagement due to its focus on guarantee schemes, claiming it has left the state “bankrupt” and unable to maintain basic infrastructure.
Ashoka also took a swipe at Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who recently remarked that potholes exist even on roads leading to the Prime Minister’s residence in Delhi. “Mr. Shivakumar, why don’t you check for potholes outside the US President’s house?” Ashoka quipped, urging the government to focus on its responsibilities rather than deflecting blame. He criticized the state’s “temporary patchwork” approach to road repairs and demanded Rs 10,000 crore be allocated for comprehensive roadworks in Bengaluru alone.
Also Read: Ladakh Erupts As Protesters Torch Police Van Over Statehood
Protests echoed across the state, with demonstrations in Mandya, Chitradurga, Shivamogga, Gadag, and Koppal, where BJP leaders and supporters blocked roads and filled potholes to protest the government’s negligence. In Bengaluru’s Yelahanka, MLA S R Vishwanath led a similar effort, while Bengaluru Central MP P C Mohan and Legislative Council Leader of Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy joined a pothole-filling demonstration on BVK Iyengar Road.
The poor state of Karnataka’s roads, particularly in Bengaluru, has sparked widespread outrage, with industry leaders like former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai and Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw publicly urging the government to act. The issue gained further traction after online trucking platform BlackBuck announced plans to relocate from Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road, citing severe commuting and infrastructure challenges.
Facing mounting pressure, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has set a one-month deadline for authorities to fix all potholes and improve road conditions across Bengaluru. Deputy CM Shivakumar, who oversees Bengaluru’s development, defended the government’s efforts, claiming that around 1,000 potholes are being filled daily in each of the city’s five municipal corporations. He also announced Rs 1,100 crore for road repairs and construction but faced criticism from the BJP for failing to maintain roads during their tenure and politicizing the issue ahead of civic body polls.
Shivakumar’s attempt to downplay the crisis by comparing Bengaluru’s roads to those in Delhi has only fueled public frustration. “The government has a duty to fix this, and we’re working on it,” he insisted, but many residents and businesses remain skeptical, pointing to the daily hazards posed by potholes and poorly maintained roads.
The protests underscore a growing public demand for accountability, as Bengaluru’s crumbling infrastructure threatens its reputation as India’s tech hub. With industries warning of relocation and citizens grappling with unsafe roads, the Siddaramaiah government faces intense pressure to deliver lasting solutions to Karnataka’s pothole crisis.
Also Read: BJP’s Election Loss Threatens J&K Statehood, Says Omar Abdullah
