DK Shivakumar urges Bihar residents in Bengaluru to back Mahagathbandhan

Bihar Assembly elections, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Sunday urged people from Bihar living in Bengaluru to support the Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance), saying the outcome could influence political dynamics in Karnataka as well.

Addressing members of the Bihar-origin Bengaluru Residents’ Association at Coffee Board Layout in Byatarayanapura, Shivakumar appealed to them to take three to four days’ leave and travel to their hometowns to cast their votes for the Mahagathbandhan.

“Vote for Mahagathbandhan for the development of Bihar. Tell your relatives too to vote for us,” Shivakumar said.

Promises civic site allocation

Shivakumar assured the attendees that the state government would allot a civic amenity (CA) site for their association in Bengaluru.

“In another month, a notification will be issued for allocating civic amenity sites to organisations from other states. You too should apply,” he said.

He added that the government would consider providing CA sites to cultural and community organisations from across India, similar to his assurance to Assamese residents during his visit to Assam earlier this year.

“Let Tejashwi become Bihar CM first”

When members wished that he would soon become Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shivakumar replied with a smile,

“Let the Gathbandhan come to power first, and Tejashwi Yadav become Bihar CM.”

He further added that making Tejashwi Yadav the Chief Minister of Bihar and Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister were the coalition’s foremost priorities.

Appeal to construction workers

Acknowledging that many Biharis in Bengaluru are employed in the construction sector, Shivakumar urged Credai and other builders to grant leave to these workers so they can return home to vote.

He took a swipe at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, claiming that the state was no longer under his effective control.

“Bihar is not in Nitish Kumar’s hands like before, as he is at the end of his political career,” he said, while emphasising the contributions of the Nehru-Gandhi family to India’s development.