Political parties swap barbs with viral campaigns

* BRS vs BJP: BRS mocked BJP leaders as "Nirma girl," alleging corruption and "cleansing" after party switches.

* BRS vs Congress: BRS highlighted Congress’s unfulfilled promises and mocked their manifesto as "Scamgress Guarantee Card."

* Cong strikes back: Pictures of KTR and KCR were printed alongside ENO sachets along with the hashtag #DigestTheGrowth

MAHESH AVADHUTHA I hyderabad

In the vibrant political arena of Telangana, a fierce battle unfolds, where political parties have transformed the age-old tradition of hurling barbs into a sensational spectacle! No longer content with mere rhetoric, these parties have become the master artists of political theatrics, boldly reimagining popular advertisements into sharp jabs aimed directly at their rivals.

As creativity meets controversy, what emerges is a captivating blend of humor and hard-hitting critiques, turning the election season into a dazzling performance that keeps voters on the edge of their seats.

In this game of wits, every commercial is a potential meme, every slogan a battle cry, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Welcome to the eye-popping, jaw-dropping world of Telangana politics, where every swipe is a stroke of genius!

Political parties are indulging in poster wars against their political opponents involving noted product brands to drive their point. BRS has been doing this consistently for quite some time to target BJP and Congress and freshly Telangana Congress returned the favour.

The ruling party has put up posters and banners at some locations in the city targeting the BRS for its criticism of Revanth Reddy and team's Davos visit and MoUs inked there.

Any indigestion or stomach upset due to a record 1.78 lakh crore investments to Telangana, please use ENO for relief read the message. Pictures of KTR and KCR were printed alongside ENO sachets along with the hashtag #DigestTheGrowth. This campaign went viral on various social media platforms on Saturday with some Congress leaders bringing ENO packets for displaying them to the media during their press meets attacking BRS for its stand on Davos.

BRS subscribed this strategy earlier

If we rewind backwards to March, 2023, BRS which was in the government at that time in the state took on BJP No.2 and the Home Minister Amit Shah when he was visiting Hyderabad for the raising day parade of CISF (Central Industrial Security Force).

Posters across Hyderabad mocked the saffron party’s alleged hypocrisy, featuring BJP leaders from various states (Narayan Rane, Suvendu Adhikari, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Eshwarappa) who switched parties depicted as the iconic "Nirma girl", suggesting they were "cleansed" of corruption after joining the BJP. The campaign highlighted perceived immunity from investigations for the BJP turncoats involved in past scams. 

On another occasion in March 2023, a controversial poster by the BRS portrayed PM Narendra Modi as the ten-headed Ravana, calling him the "destroyer of democracy" and the "grandfather of hypocrisy." The unfulfilled promises to the Telangana state were highlighted in each head of the picture

Congress at the receiving end

BRS adopted the poster strategy to corner the ruling Congress party just a month before the assembly elections were due in Telangana towards the end of 2023. Mocking Congress party’s election manifesto promising six guarantees if it came to power, BRS printed posters that read “Scamgress Guarantee Card” giving its own version for each of the six guarantees.

Cut to first week of January 2025, BRS took the battle to New Delhi by putting up put up posters near AICC headquarters highlighting Telangana Congress government’s U-turn on its election promises notably the Rythu Bharosa scheme for which the assistance decided was Rs 12,000 per year as against the election promise of Rs 15, 000 per year. Mentioning other promises, BRS highlighted the U-turn word in its posters.

Not a healthy trend, say political experts

Eliciting his view, noted political analyst Telakapalli Ravi felt that political parties trying to score over one another through this poster strategy and also bringing commercial brands into this slugfest was an unhealthy practice.

“This game of one upmanship does not augur well. Any form of criticism should be constructive. This poster strategy will not benefit the people of the state any which way. Not for once the political opponents are lending a chorus voice at least for issues and matters concerning the state and its development. It appears political parties have sounded the bugle for the panchayat elections already,” he said.