He dismissed allegations of former CM Kumaraswamy that Bharat Lal Meena had bribed him to become the BBMP commissioner as baseless.
Taking the Opposition head-on over the issue of alleged irregularities in Bruhat Bangalore Mahangara Palike (BBMP) finalising civic work contracts worth Rs3,248 crore, a combative chief minister BS Yeddyurappa on Saturday stopped the tender process till the completion of BBMP polls. Yeddyurappa also dismissed the allegation of former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy that Bharat Lal Meena had bribed him to become the BBMP commissioner as baseless.
Yeddyurappa said the e-tender was part of the Rs22,000crore package cleared by the cabinet two months ago. Global tenders were called through an e-tendering process and there was no scope for manipulation. On the day of opening financial bids (January 12), the e-tendering process ran into technical glitches at the BBMP office. As a result, the process dragged on late into the night as the process could not be stopped mid-way.
Dismissing the allegations of nepotism, he said: “They are global tenders. Only qualified contractors can compete. No preference can be shown to contractors from the state. The entire process was done without any interference. If any contractor has been denied justice, let him come to me and prove it, I will redress it.”
Yeddyurappa accused the Congress and JD(S) leaders of levelling false allegations to tarnish the BJP government’s image ahead of the BBMP polls. He said the government and BJP would observe the poll code of conduct both in letter and spirit.
“I accept the challenge from the opposition. We will stop the tender process till the completion of BBMP polls on February 21 so that the elected BBMP council can take decisions on awarding the works. All we wanted was speedy execution of civic works—like signal-free corridor in the central business district and widening arterial roads. People will decide who is right and who is wrong in the BBMP polls,” he added.
Also, Yeddyurappa fumed at HD Kumaraswamy’s allegation that he took a bribe from Bharat Lal Meena for appointing him BBMP commissioner. Yeddyurappa dared Kumaraswamy to speak the truth.
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