Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar faced backlash after a video showed him throwing bitten apples into a crowd of supporters [1].
The incident has sparked a political row over the appropriateness of the gesture, with critics describing the act as demeaning to the public.
During a visit to his Kanakapura constituency, Shivakumar was presented with a ceremonial garland that included apples [1], [3]. Video footage shows the chief minister taking bites from the fruit before tossing the remaining pieces into the gathering of supporters [2], [4].
The footage quickly went viral on social media, drawing sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) [1], [3]. The opposition party said the gesture was inappropriate and demeaned the people of Karnataka [1], [3].
Conversely, some supporters of the chief minister viewed the act as a friendly or affectionate gesture [1], [3]. The debate has centered on whether the act was a casual interaction with a loyal base or a sign of disrespect toward the citizens he serves.
Shivakumar's actions in Kanakapura have become a focal point for political opponents seeking to highlight a perceived disconnect between the leadership and the electorate [1], [3].
“DK Shivakumar took bites from apples that were part of a ceremonial garland and then tossed the bitten apples into a crowd”
This incident highlights the volatility of visual communication in Indian regional politics, where a single viral clip can be framed as either a sign of populist intimacy or an act of elitist contempt. The BJP's rapid amplification of the video suggests a strategy to weaponize the chief minister's public conduct to alienate him from his constituency.
