Bridge Inauguration Sparks Political Divide: Cong. MLAs Absent as Kagodu Thimmappa Praises Gadkari

Quick Summary:

• Event: Sigandur bridge in Sagar taluk was inaugurated amid a political dispute between BJP and Congress leaders.
• Congress Allegations: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah claimed he was not informed of the program well in advance and requested rescheduling due to prior commitments.
• Boycott: Congress legislators, including Ministers Sathish Jarkiholi and Madhu Bangarappa, skipped the event in protest.
• BJP Defense: BJP MP B.Y.Raghavendra argued that Siddaramaiah had been informed about the event on July 9, with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari confirming an invite sent on july 11.
• Remarks by Leaders:

– Gadkari emphasized commitment to cooperative federalism.
– Pralhad Joshi expressed disappointment over politicization of the inauguration.
– Kagodu Thimmappa (Cong.) praised gadkari’s efforts and proposed naming a bridge entry after him.

• District administration Absence: Senior officials from Shivamogga district administration were noticeably absent from the ceremony.

Indian Opinion analysis:

The Sigandur bridge inauguration highlights how infrastructure projects can become contentious political flashpoints, overshadowing their primary purpose of public benefit.While BJP leaders defended their invitation process with evidence of prior interaction,Congress’s boycott points to deeper disagreements over protocol adherence or possible mistrust between State and Central entities.

This incident underscores challenges arising in India’s federal structure when communication lapses or differing interpretations impact coordination between governments. The absence of senior district officials could further indicate strained relations at administrative levels during such programs.Projects like this enhance connectivity for local populations-as reflected by Kagodu Thimmappa’s emotional gratitude-yet their politicization risks diverting focus away from tangible public benefits toward partisan disputes.

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