BJP Leader Prakash Shesharaghavachar Urges Siddaramaiah to Help Preserve Kumarakrupa Guest House
Bengaluru, June 13: BJP State Spokesperson Prakash Shesharaghavachar has written an open letter to former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, urging him to take steps that would help preserve the historic Kumarakrupa Guest House in Bengaluru from being converted into the official residence of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
In the letter, Shesharaghavachar appealed to Siddaramaiah to vacate the Kaveri residence and shift back to the government residence on Gandhi Bhavan Road where he had previously lived. He argued that such a move would allow Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to occupy the Kaveri residence, thereby eliminating the need to alter the heritage character of Kumarakrupa Guest House.
Appeal to Siddaramaiah
Addressing Siddaramaiah, Shesharaghavachar praised the former Chief Minister for successfully leading the state over the past three years and for gracefully handing over power to D.K. Shivakumar at the request of the party high command.
He described the transition as a dignified political example and urged Siddaramaiah to once again demonstrate statesmanship by helping protect a heritage property of Bengaluru.
Kaveri Residence Traditionally Used by Chief Ministers
The BJP leader noted that although the Kaveri residence has never been officially notified as the Chief Minister’s residence, it has informally served as the preferred residence for several Chief Ministers over the years.
He pointed out that Siddaramaiah himself had resided there during his earlier tenure in 2013 and again after returning to office in 2023, and continues to stay there presently.
According to media reports cited in the letter, Siddaramaiah is likely to continue residing at Kaveri. At the same time, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is reportedly considering shifting to Kumarakrupa Guest House as his official residence.
Heritage Concerns Over Kumarakrupa Guest House
Shesharaghavachar expressed concern that converting Kumarakrupa Guest House into the Chief Minister’s residence would affect the functioning and heritage value of the property.
He noted that the Kumarakrupa campus contains:
- Residential quarters for government staff.
- Accommodation facilities for government employees visiting Bengaluru from other districts.
- A newly constructed large guest facility at the rear of the premises.
- Hospitality facilities currently managed by Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC).
- Accommodation arrangements for visiting dignitaries from other states.
- Parking facilities used by several government vehicles during night hours.
According to him, these activities could face significant disruption if the entire campus is converted into a high-security Chief Ministerial residence.
Public Access May Be Restricted
The BJP spokesperson further stated that the campus presently serves as a green public space where hundreds of citizens visit every morning and evening for walks.
If the Chief Minister were to move into the premises, security protocols would likely result in restrictions on public access, affecting regular visitors and altering the open nature of the campus.
He also cautioned that extensive structural and security modifications would become unavoidable, potentially impacting the heritage character of the building.
Request to Preserve Heritage Structure
In his concluding appeal, Shesharaghavachar urged Siddaramaiah to inform the government that he is willing to shift back to his previous residence, thereby enabling Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to move into Kaveri.
He argued that such a decision would help avoid unnecessary expenditure on modifying Kumarakrupa Guest House and preserve the architectural beauty and historical significance of one of Bengaluru’s prominent heritage properties.
The BJP leader expressed hope that Siddaramaiah would consider the suggestion in the larger public interest and contribute towards safeguarding the heritage value of the Kumarakrupa Guest House.
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