Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) has been instructed to apply to BMRCL to open Nandini outlets in eight metro stations.
Published Jun 19, 2025 | 6:02 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 19, 2025 | 6:02 PM
BMRCL had called for a global tender and Amul was the lone applicant.
Synopsis: Amul currently operates outlets at Benniganahalli and Byappanahalli Metro stations. The new outlets are planned at Pattandur Agrahara, Indiranagar, Trinity Circle, Sir M Visvesvaraya, Jayanagara, Majestic, National College, and Banashankari stations.
The Nandini vs Amul debate has resurfaced in Karnataka once again following the announcement that BMRCL has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Gujarat-based Amul to set up kiosks at 10 key Metro stations across the city.
On 18 June, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) has been instructed to apply to BMRCL to open Nandini outlets in eight metro stations.
Speaking to reporters at his official residence in Kumarapark, he said, “BMRCL had called for a global tender and Amul was the lone applicant. We have instructed KMF to submit its application to BMRCL. KMF will open Nandini outlets in eight metro stations.”
“Amul has already opened its outlets in two metro stations. It is not appropriate to close down the existing outlets. We have informed the BMRCL to allow KMF to open Nandi outlets in the remaining eight metro stations,” he added.
BMRCL Managing Director M Maheshwar Rao, speaking to the media on Wednesday, said that “Once an agreement is signed, we are obliged to proceed with it. However, we will evaluate the availability of space at other stations and act as per government directions.”
BL Yashwanth Chavan, Chief Public Relations Officer (Chief PRO) of Namma Metro (Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited – BMRCL), told the media that the said tenders were invited for retail shops at Metro stations, but Nandini did not participate in the tender process.
“Earlier, Nandini had its outlets at the MG Road, Mahalaksmi, and Vijayanagar metro stations, but only the Vijayanagar outlet is operational today,” he said.
Stating that these retail spaces are won through a competitive bidding process, he added, “If they participated, they would have also gotten. We do not differentiate between one and the other.”
Amul currently operates outlets at Benniganahalli and Byappanahalli Metro stations. The new outlets are planned at Pattandur Agrahara, Indiranagar, Trinity Circle, Sir M Visvesvaraya, Jayanagara, Majestic, National College, and Banashankari stations.
ಕಮಿಷನ್ ಆಸೆಗೆ ಸ್ವಾಭಿಮಾನ ಮಾರಿಕೊಂಡ @DKShivakumar !
ಡೂಪ್ಲಿಕೇಟ್ ಸಿಎಂ ಡಿಕೆಶಿಯ ನವರಂಗಿ ಆಟ ಮತ್ತೊಮ್ಮೆ ಬಯಲಾಗಿದೆ..
ಚುನಾವಣೆಗೂ ಮುಂಚೆ #SaveNandini , ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ಆತ್ಮಗೌರವ ಮಾರಾಟಕ್ಕಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಪುಂಗೀ ಬಿಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಡಿಕೆಶಿ, ಕಮಿಷನ್ ಆಸೆಗೆ ಇಂದು ಹೊರ ರಾಜ್ಯಗಳ ಹಾಲಿನ ಉತ್ಪನ್ನಗಳಿಗೆ ಮಣೆ ಹಾಕಿದ್ದಾರೆ.… https://t.co/NVFD9NUaaT pic.twitter.com/SYDE6XEK2R
— Janata Dal Secular (@JanataDal_S) June 17, 2025
The JD(S) took potshots at the Congress government with a post on X with the title, “ DK Shivakumar sold his self-respect for the lure of commission.”
“… Before the elections, DKShi blew the trumpet of #SaveNandini, claiming that the pride of Kannadigas was not for sale. But today, for the sake of commission, he has opened the doors to dairy products from other states. In over 10 Metro stations in Bengaluru, space has been given for the sale of milk products from outside the state. @INCKarnataka, which used the Nandini brand — a symbol of our farmers’ and Kannadigas’ pride — for their publicity, has now forgotten Nandini after coming to power and rolled out the red carpet for milk products from other states,” it wrote.
“The Congress government has failed to create a competitive market for Nandini’s milk products, which is harming the interests of ‘Nandini’ — the pride brand of Kannadigas,” the post said.
Ahead of the 2023 assembly election, the BJP government headed by the then-chief minister Basavaraj Bommai was criticised by the opposition Congress party for its decision to allow Amul to sell dairy products online, arguing it was against the interests of Karnataka’s farmers.
Amul’s plan to market its products, especially milk and curd, through quick commerce platforms in Bengaluru, was met with hashtag campaigns, #GoBackAmul and #SaveNandini on social media.
The hashtag campaign became a toolkit for the Congress and the JD(S) — then opposing the BJP — to take on the ruling BJP.
In December 2022, Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to KMF facilities in Mandya raised concerns amongst farmers and political parties about Amul’s potential expansion at Nandini’s expense.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
