Residents of Bengaluru’s Malleswaram neighbourhood have revived the neglected Aane Park through a citizen-funded cleanup drive, only to object after flex boards featuring local BJP MLA CN Ashwathnarayan appeared at the park gate the following morning.
The elephant-themed park, one of the green spaces in the residential area, had reportedly remained neglected for years. Residents said it had deteriorated into a dumping ground and was frequently closed to the public, limiting access to an open space in a densely settled part of the city.
The cleanup was organised by residents and local youth last weekend after they responded to a call to reclaim the park. The group raised funds and spent several hours removing accumulated debris and waste from the premises. The Greater Bengaluru Authority supported the effort by providing a truck to transport and dispose of the material, according to the report by Deccan Chronicle.
The dispute began after flex boards carrying photographs of Ashwathnarayan were placed outside the park. The boards celebrated the reopening of the space, residents said, although the cleanup had been undertaken by neighbourhood volunteers with civic support. Residents removed the boards and placed them in the truck being used to carry waste away from the park.
Preeti, a volunteer who led the cleanup drive, said the episode had brought politics into a community effort. “Somebody does the work, somebody else takes credit for it,” she was quoted as saying by Deccan Chronicle.
Ashwathnarayan has represented the area since 2008, according to the report. Residents cited the park’s long neglect while objecting to the display of his photographs, but the supplied report does not include a response from the MLA or details of any official maintenance plan for Aane Park.
The episode highlights a recurring administrative problem around urban public spaces: a park may fall between routine maintenance, local representation and community stewardship until residents organise to restore it. In this case, the Greater Bengaluru Authority’s role was limited to waste removal support in the cleanup described by the report. The available account does not establish who is formally responsible for the park’s daily upkeep, security, opening hours or restoration after the drive.
The dispute also places attention on how civic work is publicly documented. Residents who contributed labour and funds challenged the presentation of the reopening as a political achievement. Following the incident, comments criticising the MLA appeared on posts from his social media account, the report said.
The immediate next step for Aane Park is whether the cleaned space will remain accessible and receive regular municipal maintenance. No further schedule or formal maintenance commitment was provided in the supplied report.
