In the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka, a social media battle has erupted between the ruling Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over a contentious advertisement featuring “an empty mug”, which symbolises the BJP-led NDA government’s purported neglect of the state’s interests.
The dispute unfolded when a photograph surfaced of Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside Janata Dal (Secular) Party chief HD Deve Gowda at a rally, with Deve Gowda holding a newspaper featuring the Congress’s “empty mug” advertisements on its front page.
In response, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah shared an edited picture of PM Modi and Seve Gowda on X, captioning it “Shri Devegowda showing the Art to the Artist”.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakamar echoed Siddaramaiah's sentiments on X, terming the situation as “poetic justice”, in reference to the literary concept of “deserved punishment for one’s actions”.
The BJP swiftly retaliated on social media, posting an edited image of Siddharamaiah holding an “empty poy” in 2013, contrasting it with a more recent picture without the post in 2023.
Meanwhile, Congress staged a protest in Bengaluru, brandishing empty mugs to highlight their grievances. Congress MP Randeep Surjewala condemned the BJP-led Centre for allegedly neglecting the state’s demands and interests.
Addressing reporters on Saturday, Surjewala said, “Kannadigas demand their right. We give Rs 100 to the government of India in taxes and Kannadigas get Rs 13 back only. When they demand their share of their own taxes, Modi ji gives them 'Chombu'.”
“When there has been a drought in the state for six months now, the Congress government of Karnataka is asking for Rs 17,400 crore of drought relief money for our farmers, for our poor across the state, Modi ji gives us 'Chombu'...Time to defeat BJP's government and to elect Congress nationally,” he added.
Amidst the political sparring, Surjewala took to X, saying, “6.5 crore Kannadigars will also give the same mug to the BJP party, which has given them all these mugs, in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and send them home.”
Karnataka, with its 28 Lok Sabha seats, will hold voting in the second and third phases of the ongoing elections on April 26 and May 7, respectively.