“India needs a second capital and Bengaluru is the best choice,” said RV Deshpande, Karnataka Large, Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development Minister.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Deshpande said, “A country the size and scale of India cannot be managed from one location, especially when the government is gearing up for a paradigmatic and radical change in terms of depth of governance, structural reforms, national reconstruction and international partnerships.”

‘Advantages’ Deshpande said ‘Bengaluru is best suited to take on the mantle’ and listed out the key advantages.

“Bengaluru city is well away from natural calamities and extreme weather conditions. A city with a diverse population of professionals and industries spanning various fields of business. Bengaluru with its multifaceted lifestyle, industrial development and technological innovations is in prime position to do just that,” the letter said.

This move is an integral factor to create decentralised systems and delegate decision-making. This will help recognise the people of South India by bringing the administrative and judicial system closer to them, he said.

The letter also addresses the negative biases that people have towards the Delhi government when it comes to South Indian demands. “The rich and complex history of development and culture cannot be done justice in an administrative system which is distant and does not recognise the salience and uniqueness of the culture and ethos of South India,” Deshpande said.

The active integration of Southern India into the national vision needs a new capital. “Establishing the second seat of the Supreme Court, a second office of the Union Public Service Commission and conducting the Winter Session of the Parliament in Bangalore, are things we could consider,” he added.

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