New Delhi (India), April 10, 2023: Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation’s decision to enter the Karnataka market has created a stir in the southern state.
Many politicians and citizens of Bengaluru have expressed their displeasure and have been advocating for the Karnataka Milk Federation’s Nandini brand.
#SaveNandini and #GoBackAmul have been trending on social media, and the milk wars have spilled into the political arena.
The Congress has accused the BJP of “killing” Karnataka’s dairy brand and opined that Amul’s entry could have repercussions on the upcoming state elections on May 10. Political analysts believe that this could create a divide among voters, with some feeling alienated by the issue.
Leaders like former CM Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar, and JD(S)-HD Kumaraswamy have taken to social media to express their views, with the latter alleging that “one nation, one Amul, one milk, one Gujarat” seems to be the official stand of the Central government.
While the BJP has dismissed the issue as the opposition milking it for political gains, Karnataka’s Cooperation Minister ST Somashekar has stated that Nandini’s lower pricing would give it an edge over Amul.
The Nandini brand, founded in 1974, is homegrown and something Kannadigas are proud of, with KMF being the second-largest milk producer in the country after Amul. The late actor Puneeth Rajkumar also endorsed the brand as its ambassador.
