Biocon founder meets DK Shivakumar amid face-off over Bengaluru infrastructure

Days after sparring in public over Bengaluru's potholes and garbage piles, Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw was back in conversation with Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, this time at his home to extend a wedding invitation. However, sources said, Bengaluru's civic decay -- the same issue that triggered Shaw's criticism and a political backlash -- did inevitably come up during today's meeting. 

The billionaire entrepreneur's comments on the city's roads and waste management had struck a chord with citizens but riled the ruling Congress. Shivakumar had earlier rebuked the remarks, saying they "hurt the state and the country", and called for collective effort instead of public blame. However, the Deputy Chief Minister tried to strike a conciliatory note after today's meeting, writing on X that the two had an "engaging discussion on Bengaluru's growth, innovation, and the path ahead for Karnataka's growth story".