Bengaluru: Ahead of the Karnataka Assembly elections, the state industries minister RV Deshpande has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make Bengaluru the second capital city of India.

The minister, in the letter, wrote: "India needs a second capital city and Bengaluru is the best place to fulfil that role."

Deshpande further added: "Bengaluru is probably the only city in the country where one can find as many software engineers as classical language scholars. Apart from Delhi, it has, probably internationally, the most diverse student population and nationally the most diverse population of professionals attesting to the cultural diversity of the city and its civic robustness."

Speaking to News18 exclusively, Deshpande said, "Bengaluru has got the attention of the world. He also said Karnataka is a visionary state, we have brought the first industrial policy, first IT policy, first start-up policy, first automobile policy and first infrastructure policy."

Speaking about the developments in India’s IT capital, the minister said we are coming up with a convention centre near the International airport, we have called for a business park which the cabinet has already approved and we have called for tenders. The first phase of metro work has been completed, and the second phase has started. Government is not doing a formality. Sometimes tenders with higher premiums are approved only to see that public at large in Bengaluru get the best services.

Deshpande wrote if Bengaluru is made the second capital of the country, it will help in creating newer opportunities in trade, cultural exchange and scientific and industrial innovation in the city.

The Minister concluded the letter by saying, "We, the people in Karnataka, look forward to a positive response to the proposal."