With the onset of monsoon, Bengaluru has gone without political leadership

At this crucial juncture, the city has no clear political leadership as Krishna Byre Gowda, who has been given the Bengaluru development portfolio – albeit with key departments retained by the chief minister – is yet to take charge. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

As the monsoon rains began to lash Bengaluru, the cracks in its civic infrastructure are once again a witness for all to see. At such a critical time, the city has no clear political leadership as Krishna Byre Gowda, who has been given the Bengaluru development portfolio – albeit with key departments retained by the chief minister – is yet to take charge.

Mr. Gowda had recently said that he was waiting for the accountability to be clarified before taking charge and hoped that the issue would be resolved soon. Sources said he was opposed to him taking charge without the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and the Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA), both planning bodies at the helm of key infrastructure projects, as it would sever responsibility and accountability for city governance and adversely affect his effectiveness as a minister.

However, there seems to be no end to this impasse as the Chief Minister, who has retained BDA and BMRDA, has remained silent on the issue till date. Sources in the ruling party said that since Ramalinga Reddy, who resigned over not being allotted Bengaluru Development, also stepped down and took over as water resources minister, Mr. Gowda is the only minister yet to take charge, raising eyebrows in the party. This impasse will also affect the prospects of the Congress in the upcoming civic polls in the city.

All eyes are now on Saturday as it remains to be seen whether Mr Gowda will attend the Cabinet meeting as he is yet to take charge as a minister.

As civic elections are being held from September 2020, there are neither mayors nor Bengaluru development minister in the five city corporations. Although Mr Shivakumar chairs the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) as the Chief Minister of the state, he has also not held a meeting to review monsoon preparedness since taking over as Chief Minister.

“Need Bengaluru Minister Empowered”

Bengaluru South BJP MP Tejasvi Surya on Monday launched a social media campaign demanding “full powers of the Bengaluru Development Minister”. “The ongoing turf war within the state government has left the city without clear accountability at a time when Bengaluru is facing growing infrastructure and civic problems,” he said.

Arguing that it was not a matter of who would be Bengaluru’s development minister and that it was the chief minister’s prerogative, he said, “Bengaluru needs an empowered minister who can be held accountable by citizens. The division of responsibility between the chief minister and the Bengaluru minister creates confusion and paralysis of governance.”

Srikanth Narasimhan of Bengaluru Navanirmana Party said a woman was killed in a rain-related accident in the city and Bengaluru needed a full-time minister. “It is strange that the chief minister has retained two key departments. We need a full-time Bengaluru development minister,” he said.

Published – 15 Jun 2026 22:25 IST