Alleged irregularities in garbage tender: BJP delegation submits complaint to Governor

Bengaluru: A delegation of leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party has submitted a complaint to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, alleging large-scale irregularities in a major waste management tender awarded in Bengaluru and seeking a CBI investigation into the matter.

Speaking to the media, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka claimed that the alleged scam could be one of the biggest garbage-management scandals in the country. He alleged that the Congress-led state government had awarded the contract to a Delhi-based company despite concerns over its track record and said the BJP would also approach the Karnataka Lokayukta with an affidavit seeking an independent probe.

Ashoka alleged that nearly Rs 36,000 crore was involved in the tender process and accused the ruling Congress of facilitating a massive financial irregularity under the guise of waste management. He demanded that the tender be cancelled immediately and that officials responsible for any wrongdoing be held accountable.

The BJP leader further claimed that the company awarded the contract had previously faced action from international agencies and had earlier been removed from waste-management work in Bengaluru. He alleged that despite these concerns, the tender received approval after intervention from senior party leadership and was later cleared by the state cabinet.

According to Ashoka, the issue was discussed extensively within the government, leading to the formation of a cabinet sub-committee to review the tender process. He also alleged that a previously constituted committee had been replaced and that the new panel had been asked to submit its findings within a week. Using sharp political rhetoric, Ashoka accused the ruling party of attempting to profit from the waste-management project rather than addressing Bengaluru’s growing garbage problem. He said the BJP would continue to pursue the matter through constitutional and legal channels until a transparent investigation is conducted.

The state government has not yet issued a detailed response to the allegations. The controversy is expected to intensify in the coming days as both the BJP and the Congress trade charges over the tender process and the management of Bengaluru’s solid waste system.