Former Infosys CFO and venture capitalist Mohandas Pai has made a strong appeal for special financial allocations for Bengaluru in the upcoming Union Budget 2026, while launching a sharp critique against the Congress-led Karnataka government for its policies.
Pai's Budget Demand and Infrastructure Critique
In a video interview with PTI, Mohandas Pai stated his expectation for some 'special funds' to be announced for Bengaluru in the Union Budget, which Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present on 1 February 2026. He argued that the city, which drives India's technology economy, has suffered due to neglect under the current administration led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Pai alleged that a massive sum between ₹60,000 crore and ₹70,000 crore had been spent on the state government's guarantee schemes. He claimed that roughly half of this expenditure was unnecessary and came at the direct cost of adequate funding for Bengaluru's development and infrastructure.
Paper Ballot Move Called "Absurd" and Damaging
Pai reserved particularly strong criticism for the reported push by CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar to reintroduce paper ballots for the Bengaluru City Corporation elections, replacing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
"Bangalore city is the greatest tech city in the world. It is the biggest tech centre in the world in terms of people, and you want to take us backwards by having paper ballots. It is ridiculous," Pai said. He warned that such decisions reflect a troubling mindset and risk damaging the city's hard-earned international reputation as a global technology hub. "You can't take the city backwards. You are hurting the reputation of Bangalore," he added.
Praise Amidst Criticism and Context of Earlier Warnings
Interestingly, in the same interview, Pai also praised Siddaramaiah for becoming Karnataka's longest-serving Chief Minister, calling him an 'extraordinary' political leader and a 'role model' who rose through hard work and determination without family connections.
This is not Pai's first warning about Bengaluru's state. In September last year, he joined Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw in raising alarms over the city's failing infrastructure, specifically highlighting poor conditions near major tech offices like Google India's. Their criticism had prompted ministers to acknowledge problems and call for collective effort, with Deputy CM Shivakumar citing ₹1,100 crore sanctioned for road repairs and work on thousands of potholes.
Subsequently, both industry leaders had praised Shivakumar's leadership under the Greater Bengaluru Authority, noting improvements. The Authority's East Corporation was stated to retain ₹1,673 crore of its own revenues for direct infrastructure upgrades in 50 wards, benefiting IT corridors.
