Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh has sharpened the political spotlight on Bengaluru’s civic troubles, taking aim at Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s recent dismissal of infrastructure complaints as “blackmail.”
Posting on X, Lokesh said, “Here’s what sets AP apart from others – we don’t dismiss our people’s genuine grievances as ‘Blackmail’. We treat them with the dignity and seriousness they deserve.”
The remark came as part of Lokesh’s larger pitch to Bengaluru-based logistics tech firm BlackBuck, which had earlier flagged crumbling roads as a reason to vacate its Bellandur office. Although the company later clarified it would stay in the city, co-founder Rajesh Yabaji’s post sparked widespread debate on the state of Bengaluru’s infrastructure.
Seizing the moment, Lokesh extended a direct invitation: “Hi Rajesh, can I interest you in relocating your company to Vizag? We are rated among top 5 cleanest cities in India, are building best-in-class infra, and have been rated the safest city for women. Please send me a DM.”
Shivakumar, meanwhile, defended his government, insisting that Bengaluru continues to attract global firms because of its talent pool. He said ₹1,100 crore had been allocated for road repairs and warned contractors of a November deadline to fix potholes. “We are least bothered about threats or blackmailing,” he asserted, brushing aside criticism from Yabaji and even Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy, who had dubbed Bengaluru a “city of potholes.”
