Samajwadi Party MP Criticizes Bengaluru's Traffic Crisis, Highlights Government Response Difference Between Congress and BJP

Samajwadi Party MP Rajeev Rai stated that Bengaluru Traffic Police were unresponsive to his calls. (File)

New Delhi:

Samajwadi Party (SP) Lok Sabha Member of Parliament Rajeev Rai recently experienced Bengaluru's notorious traffic congestion firsthand and publicly expressed his frustration. In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Rai tagged Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah while criticizing the state government for what he described as the worst traffic management system and most ineffective traffic police force.

This criticism of Bengaluru's traffic situation comes at a sensitive time for Karnataka's ruling Congress party, which is already experiencing internal leadership tensions between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. What makes this critique particularly noteworthy is that it originates from a political ally in the opposition coalition - the Samajwadi Party.

Rai, who represents Uttar Pradesh's Ghosi constituency in the Lok Sabha, revealed that he had been stuck on Bengaluru's Rajkumar Samadhi Road for over an hour and was concerned about missing his flight to Delhi for a Parliament session. He complained about the unresponsiveness of traffic officials, sharing screenshots of unanswered call attempts to the police.

"Tomorrow, I have to attend the Parliament session. Not a single policeman is seen around," the MP lamented in his social media post.

He further stated, "These inefficient officers are enough to spoil the name and charm of this beautiful city. No doubt now Bengaluru traffic has earned the reputation of most notorious traffic."

In a follow-up conversation with NDTV, Rai mentioned that after his social media post gained attention, Bengaluru authorities contacted him to explain the situation and provide assurances. He added a political observation, noting, "Try putting out such a social media post in a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled state, and an FIR (First Information Report) will be filed against you."

When questioned about Bengaluru BJP MP Tejasvi Surya's similar complaints regarding the city's traffic issues, Rai countered, "Was the traffic problem solved when the BJP was in power earlier?" Despite his criticisms, Rai acknowledged that Bengaluru is a beautiful city.

Rai's social media post elicited various reactions from X users. Some commenters sarcastically asked how it felt to experience traffic problems like ordinary citizens. One user observed: "A politician complaining on Twitter about problems that are outside their jurisdiction... peak irony."

Another commenter suggested that politicians should regularly experience common citizens' challenges: "The public are suffering every day, but this parliamentarian is feeling the pinch when his flight gets delayed and he cannot find any traffic police to escort him. All politicians must be denied police escorts and must be made to suffer like the common man; only then things will change."

Several social media users urged Rai to raise Bengaluru's traffic issues in Parliament during the Winter Session, which commenced on Monday. Others pessimistically noted that meaningful action seems unlikely while Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar continue their leadership struggle.

One comment humorously observed: "One thing we should love about Bengaluru's traffic is that it treats everyone equally."