Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw Meets Karnataka Leaders Amid Row Over Bengaluru’s Infrastructure

Biocon founder and one of India Inc.’s most influential voices, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, met Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar at their residences in Bengaluru on Tuesday (21 October) morning.

According to NDTV, the visits were personal in nature, with Shaw extending invitations to the Congress leaders for her nephew’s wedding.

However, the meetings have drawn attention as they follow a recent public spat between Shaw and state ministers over the city’s poor infrastructure.

While the Biocon chief refrained from speaking to the media, Shivakumar later shared on X that they had an “engaging discussion on Bengaluru’s growth, innovation, and the path ahead for Karnataka’s growth story.”

The Deputy Chief Minister had earlier accused Shaw of pursuing a “personal agenda” after she criticised the state of Bengaluru’s roads and civic infrastructure.

Shaw had swiftly rebutted the charge, pointing out that she had raised similar concerns during earlier BJP and JDS governments as well. “Our agenda is clear, clean up and restore roads,” she asserted.

In recent months, Shaw and other corporate leaders, including former Infosys CFO TV Mohandas Pai, have openly criticised the deteriorating conditions in India’s technology hub.

“I had an overseas business visitor to Biocon Park who said, ‘Why are the roads so bad and why is there so much garbage around? Doesn’t the government want to support investment?’” she wrote on X, echoing frustration within the business community.

Government ministers, including Santosh Lad, have since pushed back, questioning Shaw’s criticism. But the Biocon founder maintained her stance.

“All I am seeking is garbage clearance and road resurfacing which ought to be done by the GBA (Greater Bengaluru Authority)... Government ministers need to hold them responsible and accountable,” she said.

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