'What song are you listening to?' JD(S) takes swipe at top Karnataka Congress leaders with satirical AI video

The clip targeting Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar comes amid allegations of corruption and mismanagement

In a latest round of political mudslinging in Karnataka, the Opposition Janata Dal (Secular) has posted a satirical video on its X handle mocking the Congress government and its top leaders, amid allegations of corruption and mismanagement.

The video, posted on February 11, follows a popular social media trend where a "reporter" asks random people, "What song are you listening to?"

The subjects of this video, who resemble Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, and Chikkaballapur MLA Pradeep Eshwar, respond with titles of old Kannada film songs that also double as self-damning puns in the local language.

The response by 'Siddaramaiah' is 'Nungona Baa' (from the film Circle Inspector), implying "come, let's swallow it", a jab at the alleged mismanagement of public funds.

Then, it is the turn of 'Shivakumar' who says, 'Kallaru Navelaru' (from S P Bhargavi), meaning "all of us are thieves".

Then comes 'Pradeep Eshwar' who says he is listening to 'Huchcha Venkat Naanu' from Porki Huccha Venkat, hinting at "I am crazy'.

The video carries the caption: 'This playlist fits them too well'.

The post is part of JD(S)'s sustained online campaign against the Congress-led State government, which includes recent videos accusing the administration of neglecting government hospitals, risking public safety with poorly maintained buses, flaunting luxurious lifestyles at taxpayers' expense, and embracing a "commission culture".

Opposition parties, including the BJP, have been increasingly using such meme-driven satire to target the Congress in the State, particularly Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar in the wake of the ongoing power struggle in the party.