Amidst an acute water crisis gripping Bengaluru, Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister and prominent Congress figure DK Shivakumar has taken the initiative to appoint nodal officers for a single constituency in the city. However, this move has sparked criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has denounced it as "stepmotherly" treatment, particularly as the said constituency falls within the Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituency, currently represented by Shivakumar's brother, DK Suresh.
Accusing the Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister of displaying favoritism and partiality towards specific areas of the city, the BJP has levied allegations of politicization, especially in light of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
"The entire city of Bengaluru is grappling with the dire water shortage. Yet, the Karnataka government's actions demonstrate a clear case of neglect and bias. Why single out Rajarajeshwari Nagar for the appointment of a nodal officer? This is a question that the people will surely seek answers to," remarked Karnataka BJP President BY Vijayendra.
Echoing similar sentiments, Karnataka BJP Vice President Malavika Avinash underscored the widespread water scarcity plaguing the city. She expressed disdain over the government's decision to focus solely on Rajarajeshwari Nagar, the constituency belonging to DK Shivakumar's brother, amidst the citywide crisis.
Bengaluru's water woes have intensified as borewells in numerous localities have dried up, exacerbating reliance on private tankers as the primary water source for a majority of the population. The situation reached a critical point on March 7, when the district administration intervened by regulating tanker rates for four months, providing some respite to residents grappling with the water scarcity.
