TRS social media team has been taking swipes at Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai and his government over '40% commission' charge.
Published Oct 13, 2022 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 13, 2022 | 9:00 AM
TRS leaders say that Karnataka BJP being corrupt is an open secret now. (YSR/Twitter)
The BJP government led by Basavaraj Bommai in Karnataka is drawing cross-border criticism.
Leaders of the ruling TRS in Telangana are going to great lengths to troll the Bommai government despite having no presence in Karnataka.
Take, for instance, this tweet by TRS social media convener Y Satish Reddy on Wednesday, 12 October..
Results of 40% government 👇 pic.twitter.com/eZrrlPUI6z
— YSR (@ysathishreddy) October 12, 2022
In the latest salvo of TRS taking a swipe over corruption allegations against the Basavaraj Bommai government, the party posted an edited photo of the logo of American technology giant Apple.
While the original logo of the company represents an apple with bite taken out, the TRS social media convener tweeted a photo with the fruit bitten four times — apparently in reference to the “40% commission” allegations against the BJP government by state government contractors.
So why is one state’s ruling party taking on another state’s ruling party?
“This is not about the two state governments, but it’s between TRS and BJP ideology. As a political party, we are pointing to allegations against BJP in Karnataka as a corrupt party. Karnataka contractors openly accused the government of demanding 40 percent commission,” Reddy told South First.
He added that, along with TRS, “many other local parties are alleging corruption in the Karnataka government”.
While leaders of the TRS in the past have questioned claims of “double engine government” by the BJP in Karnataka — a reference to greater development because the BJP rules at both the Centre and the state — a more targeted attack has come after Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s plans to go national became concrete.
Karnataka Double Engine people are real Strong 😀 pic.twitter.com/nwcaBeR92O
— Krishank (@Krishank_BRS) July 25, 2022
The TRS’ bonhomie with Janata Dal Secular (JDS), the third-most important party in Karnataka, that intends to take on both the Congress and the BJP in the upcoming Assembly elections, is also fueling its campaign.
Wednesday’s tweet wasn’t the first or the most damaging campaign against BJP government in Karnataka by the TRS.
Posters purportedly taunting Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai in Hyderabad on 17 September. (Supplied)
A banner that read “Welcome to 40% CM” was put up purportedly by TRS workers in Hyderabad on 17 September, the day Bommai was expected to visit the city, drew sharp criticism from the Karnataka chief minister.
“Such acts will adversely impact bilateral relationship between states,” Bommai had warned.
The TRS social media campaign against Bommai and his government, however, hasn’t stopped.
On 11 October, Satish Reddy, in another social media post, brought up the poster of “PayCM”, “40% Accepted Here”, and “Scan this QR Code to make the CM PAY for corruption”, which were initially plastered on 21 September across bus shelters, compound walls, underpasses, and air vents in various parts of Bengaluru. The entire campaign was conceptualised by the Congress in Karnataka.
But this time the photo was accompanied by a similar poster featuring former Congress MLA-turned-BJP Munugode by-poll candidate Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy, who recently revealed himself as the recipient of contractual works worth ₹18,000 crore from the Union government.
The poster read “Contract Pe”, resembling that of the UPI App PhonePe, with Rajagopal’s face in the centre and text that said: “Rs 18,000 crore has been transferred to contractor Komatireddy.”
PayBJP !
40% CM ₹18,000Cr MLA
Karnataka👇 Telangana 👇 pic.twitter.com/TOBsuEesPt— YSR (@ysathishreddy) October 11, 2022
There are several posts by various TRS social media handles, as well as posts by leaders and influencers associated with TRS, taking on the Karnataka BJP government over allegations of corruption and purported poor infrastructure.
For KCR, who intends to foray into national politics, taking on the BJP government in the neighbouring state seems to be the first step towards pitching his party against the BJP.
BJP’s model #PayCM #PayPM 👇 pic.twitter.com/byn6kyRE8H
— YSR (@ysathishreddy) September 23, 2022
“Its not just TRS, but the entire social media is flooded with accusations of the Karnataka government being corrupt. From common man to political parties, everyone is posting on how badly Karnataka government is functioning. People even went to PMO (Prime Minister’s office) in Delhi and President of India to complain,” Ravula Sridhar Reddy, chairman of the Telangana State Education and Welfare Infrastructure Development Corporation and member of TRS, told South First.
Referring to recent Bengaluru floods, the TRS member alleged that not just in Karnataka, but “the corrupt practices of BJP functionaries is hampering nationwide development leading to substandard works.”
With constant criticism of the BJP government in Karnataka, the TRS is looking to emerge in contrast as a “cleaner alternative”, especially when Telangana BJP’s State President Bandi Sanjay has centered his campaign around allegations of corruption against the TRS in the state.
On being asked whether this has anything to do with TRS-Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS) relationship, Ravula Sridhar said, “TRS has friendly relations with JDS. We (TRS rechristened as BRS) are also going to contest in future elections together, but the Karnataka government being corrupt is an open secret now.”
