Taking a strong stance against the proposed tunnel road project backed by Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya has accused the Congress government of corruption and mismanagement in Bengaluru’s civic affairs. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader expressed confidence that his party would return to power in the city’s upcoming municipal elections and the 2028 Karnataka Assembly polls.

BJP MP targets tunnel road plan

In an interview with Deccan Herald, Surya described the Congress-led government’s proposed tunnel road project as “impractical” and “plagued by corruption.” He alleged that a ₹75-per-square-foot bribe was part of what he called the “Congress model for Bengaluru.”

Surya argued that the project, which aims to ease traffic congestion through a network of underground roads, lacks both financial transparency and environmental feasibility. He said the BJP would continue to oppose the initiative, which he believes prioritises vested interests over sustainable urban development.

Accuses Congress of neglecting civic governance

Surya also criticised the ruling Congress for what he described as “systemic corruption” within Bengaluru’s civic machinery. Referring to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), he claimed that poor planning, irregularities in tenders, and lack of accountability had eroded public trust.

“The Congress government’s governance model in Bengaluru is one of commissions and corruption. The people of the city will reject this once again,” Surya stated.

Confident of BJP’s resurgence

Despite recent setbacks, the BJP MP said he is confident of a resurgent performance in the city’s municipal elections, which are expected to be held soon. He emphasised that Bengaluru’s voters are aware of the difference between “corruption-driven politics” and “performance-oriented governance,” citing infrastructure and digital initiatives introduced under the previous BJP administration.

“We will win both the municipal elections and the 2028 Assembly polls because the people of Bengaluru want development, not drama,” Surya added.

Tunnel road project draws mixed reactions

The proposed tunnel network, announced earlier this year by Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, is intended to address Bengaluru’s long-standing traffic woes by creating high-speed underground corridors. However, critics, including environmentalists and urban planners, have questioned its sustainability, high cost, and potential impact on groundwater systems.

While Congress leaders maintain that the project is still under study, the BJP has positioned it as a symbol of misplaced priorities and alleged graft.

Political heat rising ahead of civic polls

With municipal elections on the horizon, political tensions in Bengaluru are intensifying. Both the Congress and BJP are using flagship infrastructure projects to shape voter perception. Surya’s comments underline the BJP’s strategy of contrasting its previous tenure’s “development-first” agenda with what it calls the Congress’s “money-first” approach.

Observers believe that the tunnel road controversy could become a defining issue in the city’s political discourse in the run-up to the elections.