DKS says Kanakapura will be brought into B'luru dist, sparks row

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar stirred up a political controversy when he announced that his native Kanakapura taluk would become a part of Bengaluru district.

While attending a religious gathering in Kanakapura, he stated that the city of Kanakapura would be integrated with Bengaluru and urged the local residents not to sell their land to people from Bengaluru.

In his address, Shivakumar emphasized that the people of Kanakapura do not belong to Ramanagara district but rather to Bengaluru district. He expressed his belief that all the villages in the area would eventually become a part of Bengaluru.

He also mentioned that he couldn't discuss the idea of making Kanakapura a separate district.

Shivakumar clarified, "I cannot provide money or build houses for everyone here. However, I have the power to increase the property prices in this region tenfold. My role as Deputy Chief Minister is primarily centered around Bengaluru, and I am committed to delivering results for my constituency. That's why I have chosen to be here despite an important program in Mysuru."

Responding to Shivakumar's statement, JD(S) and former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy strongly objected and alleged that the proposal was merely a scheme to boost his own wealth.

Kumaraswamy argued that the idea of merging Kanakapura with Bengaluru was driven by Shivakumar's desire to inflate property values in the Kanakapura area, all under the guise of aiding the local population.

He also accused Shivakumar of betraying the current Ramanagara district by asserting that the people of Kanakapura belonged to Bengaluru.

Kumaraswamy also noted that Shivakumar had not mentioned plans for a tunnel connecting Bengaluru to Kanakapura and emphasized that Kanakapura should remain part of Ramanagara district, a point he felt Shivakumar should understand.