State’s Industries Minister MB Patil on Thursday blamed the previous BJP regime led by Basavaraj Bommai for EV maker Ather choosing Maharashtra to set up its manufacturing unit.
The Bengaluru-based company had sought 50 acres of land in Bengaluru to set up its unit, but the Bommai government sanctioned only 35 acres. Out of this, five acres got into disputes. The investor got irritated and returned the entire land parcel to the government and decided to move to Maharashtra, influenced also by other factors, Patil said.
Deputy leader of Opposition Arvind Bellad (BJP) has been attacking the government for letting Ather go.
“Instead of taking responsibility for losing Ather Energy’s INR 2000 crore investment and 4000 jobs to Maharashtra, they blame others without any evidence. Karnataka, home to Ather Energy, should have been the obvious choice for their new plant, but the Congress government‘s lack of effort and initiative cost us this significant opportunity,” he posted on X.
Bellad Upset
Commenting on IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge’s allegations about the PM pressuring companies to invest in Gujarat, Bellad said it only highlighted “their inability to compete effectively. Karnataka needs leaders who can secure investments through strong policies and proactive engagement, not by playing blame games. The Congress government’s failure to act has cost Karnataka not just this investment but also our credibility as an investment-friendly state. It’s time for a leadership change to focus on real actions and results, not excuses and political distractions,” Bellad said.
In an earlier post attacking Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Bellad said the Congress government’s lack of initiative and CM’s failure to even engage with the Bengaluru-based company has cost a project to the state.
The BJP leader had been lobbying hard with the government to get the investment to Hubballi-Dharwad, highlighting the strengths of the region including the presence of facilities like Tata Marcopolo.
