After ‘Siddu beef biryani’ video, BJP comes out with another clip highlighting alleged ill-treatment faced by IAS, IPS officers under Congress rule in the state.
Bengaluru: With assembly elections barely months away, the fierce social media wars between the Congress and the BJP witnessed in Gujarat have now moved to Karnataka.
The BJP has come out with a video to highlight what it calls ‘torture’ meted out to senior IPS and IAS officers under the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in the state.
This is the second video that the BJP has released to attack the ruling Congress after it circulated the one showing the ‘secret recipe of Siddaramaiah’s beef biryani’.
Siddaramaiah led Congress govt has been the most anti-Hindu Govt in the history of K'taka. CM himself has repeatedly boasted of his anti-Hindu image. But of late, he has been trying hard to prove his Hindu credentials. But it is too late Mr. CM . Start packing your bags! pic.twitter.com/vdT9BTfVcL
— BJP Karnataka (@BJP4Karnataka) January 18, 2018
The latest online assault by the BJP seems to have been prompted by the Congress’ video on Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s visit to the state.
The BJP has been aggressively campaigning on social media. Party leaders are of the view that not only does it empower them to speak openly about their opponents, it also gives the party an opportunity to reach out to the masses instantly and effectively.
The BJP videos have come in response to what it calls the Congress’ double standards.
In the video targeting the Karnataka CM, the BJP made a sarcastic comment that the recipe of the ‘Siddu beef biryani’ had ingredients such as the rice stolen from the Anna Bhagya scheme, beef procured from illegal slaughterhouses and the blood of Hindu activists.
The latest 51-second video highlights how senior police officers have allegedly been ill-treated by CM Siddaramaiah and his ministers besides showing the ‘failure’ of the state intelligence to ensure peace. It also pointed out how the Karnataka High Court had even asked whether the state was under ‘jungle raj’.
“There will be an aggressive social media campaign in this election to connect with the literate voters and all those who carry a smart phone,” Karnataka BJP spokesperson S. Prakash told ThePrint.
The Congress, on the other hand, is focussed on pointing out the achievements of the state government. “We have delivered on our promises and we will reach out to voters in every booth through social media,” Srivatsa Y.B., the state social media head for the Congress, told ThePrint.
“We will also remind people of BJP’s misadventures when they ruled (2008-13). Another focus is to expose their lies and Union government’s failures, especially on issues concerning the state,” Srivatsa added.
Here's a recipe for a BJP star campaigner. We don't recommend it. pic.twitter.com/j5lIAvc4Oa
— Congress (@INCIndia) January 11, 2018
The Congress had earlier released videos targeting BJP MP Ananth Kumar Hegde and the BJP chief ministerial candidate and former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa.
“Social media will play the image creation role. The actual outcome will be on the basis of how many young walk the talk to the polling booth,” brand consultant Harish Bijoor told ThePrint. “The urban young are not enjoying it. The rural young are thriving on it though.”
“To the rural young, politics is festival time. The festival of democracy is in full display. And this festival packs every element of good drama in it,” Bijoor added.