Bangalore: Mayor’s car wish angers party workers

BANGALORE: Hundreds of BJP workers in city have called the offices of Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa and state party president KS Eshwarappa to register their anger against the decision of mayor SK Nataraj to use a CRV Honda car for official purposes.

BJP sources told Express that the party workers demanded that Yedduyurappa and Eshwarappa direct the mayor not to purchase a new car and instead use an Ambassador or any other car that is available with the BBMP. “By asking for a high-end car within three days of occupying office, the mayor is setting a bad precedent, that too without taking even a single people-friendly decision,” sources said quoting party cadre.

The BJP workers fear that if the mayor and deputy mayor insists on new cars, the standing committee chairpersons will follow suit.

“What is the guarantee that the corporators will not demand interestfree loans to purchase cars? If that happens, where does it end? Let Nataraj show some results on account of his policy decisions and administrative acumen before seeking comfort.

I have said this to one of the officers in the CM’s office, asking him to convey this to the Chief Minister,” said Narasimha Murthy, a party worker from Srinivasanagar.

“We cannot show our face, if this is what our mayor’s priority is, that too when people are suffering because of many civic problems,” said Vijaya Kumar and Basavaraju, party workers from Padarayanapura.

A party worker recalled that when LK Advani was first elected as the chief of the Delhi Metropolitan Council in 1967, he drove to office in his own car. “SK (Nataraj) is not LK (Advani),” quipped the 70-year-old.

Eshwarappa told Express said he will speak to the mayor and find out what the controversy was about. “I will not comment,” he said, when asked if he approved of the mayor’s decision’s to get a high-end car for himself. City BJP president BN Vijayakumar, too, refrained from commenting, but said he will get in touch his party’s senior leaders.

bngexpresso@expressbuzz.com