Bengaluru, October 29, 2025 – A fresh salvo has been fired in the ongoing political sparring between BJP MP Tejasvi Surya and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, with Surya taking aim at Shivakumar's past remarks concerning "marriage and cars." The jibe, delivered with a tone dripping in irony, has reignited tensions between the two leaders and drawn attention to the contrasting visions they hold for Bengaluru's future.
The controversy appears to stem from earlier statements made by Shivakumar, although the specifics of those remarks are not detailed in the provided context. Surya's response, however, suggests that Shivakumar's words touched on personal matters, possibly related to family life and material possessions.
Surya's criticism wasn't confined to the "marriage and cars" comment. He has been a vocal opponent of Shivakumar's proposal for a tunnel road project in Bengaluru, labeling it a "matrimonial project". Surya argues that the costly tunnel project disregards more sustainable and effective transport solutions like expanding the Metro network, suburban rail, and the BMTC bus service. He contends that prioritizing public transportation is crucial for Bengaluru's future, a vision that clashes with Shivakumar's focus on infrastructure projects like the tunnel road.
The BJP MP has also criticized the Congress government, in which Shivakumar serves as Deputy Chief Minister, for its handling of infrastructure and civic issues. He has specifically called out the "unprecedented fanfare" surrounding the launch of pothole repair initiatives, questioning the necessity of grand ceremonies for routine civic works. He stated that the amount of public money spent on fixing potholes in Bengaluru is mind-boggling.
Shivakumar has defended his development plans and has challenged Surya to demonstrate his own contributions to Bengaluru's growth. Shivakumar questioned how many times Surya has met with the Prime Minister to seek funds for Bengaluru's development.
The political feud between Surya and Shivakumar has, at times, overshadowed the pressing issues facing Bengaluru, such as traffic congestion and infrastructure development. Surya has publicly stated that Bengaluru will not benefit from an ego fight between him and Shivakumar. He has also expressed a willingness to collaborate with Shivakumar, stating he sought 30 minutes with Shivakumar to present an alternative plan of action for Bengaluru's proposed Tunnel Road project.
This latest exchange underscores the deep political divide in Karnataka and highlights the challenges of finding common ground on key issues affecting the state's capital. The people of Bengaluru now await to see if their leaders can move beyond personal attacks and work together to address the city's growing needs.
