Delhi promoting EVs, Karnataka taxing them, says BJP leader Bharath Bommai

• Published On Apr 13, 2026 at 10:51 AM IST

BJP leader Bharath Bommai has criticized Karnataka introducing road taxes on electric vehicles, saying the state’s decision is in sharp contrast with Delhi’s policy of both promoting and incentivizing the EV ecosystem.

In Delhi, the BJP-led administration is demonstrating what “pro-development” truly looks like. It has recently moved to clear a massive backlog of over ₹140 crore in EV subsidies, ensuring that a promise made to the common man is a promise kept, he said in a statement.

The BJP’s goal is simple: to make Delhi the EV capital of the world by installing 7,000 new charging stations and ensuring that clean mobility is not a luxury, but a standard for every citizen, said Bommai, who also runs automotive component manufacturing firm AutoTech Engineers in Bengaluru.

Once a global pioneer in tech and sustainability, Karnataka is now being dragged backward into stagnation. By ending road tax exemptions for EVs, the Congress government has effectively declared war on both the middle class and the environment, the BJP leader from Haveri said. The State has resorted to EV taxes to fill its coffers to fund “unscientific, populist freebie schemes,” leaving little room for real development.

For the Congress, the Silicon Valley of India has become a resource to be exploited. While the BJP in Delhi is removing barriers and building infrastructure, Congress in Karnataka is creating roadblocks and increasing costs. They are punishing the very innovators and eco-conscious citizens who built Bengaluru’s reputation, said the BJP leader, who is also the son of former CM Basavaraj Bommai.