Days after they spat over Bengaluru‘s infrastructure on social media platform X, Biocon chairperson Kiran Mujumdar Shaw met Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar at his home on the occasion of Deepavali. The two have been exchanging criticism amid a debate over Bengaluru’s crumbling infrastructure. On Tuesday, Kiran Shaw visited Shivakumar’s house and met him. The entrepreneur was also seen gifting a box of sweets to the Deputy CM. 

For the past few weeks, Kiran Shaw and several top industry voices have been raising concern over the IT city’s pothole and persistent garbage problems. However, things turned ugly when Shivakumar said that the Shaw and Bengaluru have both given each other something, and but her repeated remarks are not appreciated. 

Sharing the photo from the meeting, the Dy CM said they discussed on Bengaluru’s growth and innovation.

“It was a pleasure to meet Ms. @kiranshaw, entrepreneur and Founder of Biocon, at my residence today. We had an engaging discussion on Bengaluru’s growth, innovation, and the path ahead for Karnataka’s growth story,” he said.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw also met Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah for Diwali.

The war over Bengaluru

Kiran Shaw, a few days ago, highlighted how politicians do not show any urgency to fix the problem in Bengaluru that everyone keeps talking about. The 72-year-old businesswoman added that all it takes is “urgency, focus and $1 billion push” to fix the city. “It doesn’t take more than a focus in terms of budgetary allocation and execution.” 

The remarks were in response to a post by Mohandas Pai, who drew attention to the city’s deteriorating road conditions.

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“Minister DK Shivakumar and Priyank Kharge, some feedback. This is not the result of growth but huge corruption and bad governance,” he wrote on X. 

The former Infosys CFO pleaded for urgent action, saying, “Please help… can we have roads without potholes? This is not AI work but has been done for more than 200 years!”

Mohandas Pai shared the post while highlighting the troubles that people were coming out with on X.

Shivakumar called criticism ‘personal agenda’

After multiple comments, the Karnataka Deputy CM, who also happens to be Bengaluru Development and Town Planning said on Saturday that Mazumdar-Shaw and former Infosys CFO TV Mohandas Pai “have some personal agenda.” He added, “I tell them openly, ‘Why didn’t they open their mouths during the BJP regime?’ They have a personal agenda. We will tackle it.”

He also criticised some business leaders for forgetting their roots after achieving success: “Those who have started businesses here have grown. After growing big, they have forgotten from what stage they have grown into what stage now. If you forget the root, you will not get the fruit. Some have forgotten and are criticising by tweeting.”

Mazumdar-Shaw rejected Shivakumar’s claim, writing on X, “Not true. Both TV Mohandas Pai and I have criticised deteriorating infrastructure in our city during previous BJP & JDS Governments. Our agenda is clear. Clean up and restore roads.”

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Shaw’s rare praise for state govt

In a post on X a day before Diwali, Shaw quoted a post of Shivakumar in which he mentioned that the work on elevated corridor of the Ejipura Flyover is being done to complete it by June 2026.

“Visited the construction site of the Ejipura Flyover and I am happy to see that full-scale work has commenced. This elevated corridor is designed to ease traffic congestion along the Koramangala–Ejipura stretch. We are committed to completing the project by June 2026 and ensuring this vital link serves our residents without further delay,” he said. 

Reacting to this, she said it was indeed a positive development “which will greatly relieve traffic congestion n has been 10 years in the making which previous BJP n JDS governments did not prioritise.  Putting this on a priority track is a good move @DKShivakumar. 

As for the meeting, the discussion might bring to an end their social media commentary over Bengaluru, and might also prove helpful in the city’s development.