Opinion | A Chief Minister Tossing A Half-Eaten Apple, And A New Low

Updated: Jun 13, 2026 13:33 pm IST Published On Jun 13, 2026 12:58 pm IST Last Updated On Jun 13, 2026 13:33 pm IST

Published On Jun 13, 2026 12:58 pm IST

Last Updated On Jun 13, 2026 13:33 pm IST

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar biting apples and then tossing them into a crowd have generated criticism because the optics project an image that many perceive as patronising, unhygienic and unbecoming of a constitutional office.

During a reception in his Kanakapura constituency recently, the Karnataka CM was honoured with a massive Gajamala- a huge garland constructed from hundreds of kilograms of apples and flowers. In a moment that was widely circulated on social media, Shivakumar plucked apples from the garland, took bites out of them, and threw the eaten fruit into the air for supporters to catch.

Whether supporters in the crowd welcomed the gesture or not is beside the point. The larger issue is the message such conduct conveys.

For CM's close supporters, the gesture may seem as a highly informal, shared affection but the very act was demeaning and insensitive even for the grassroot supporters.

India has spent decades attempting to move away from the culture of political patronage and personality worship. Yet episodes like these revive uncomfortable memories of an era when politicians behaved as though public affection was their personal property rather than something earned through service. Democratic leadership requires humility. Symbolic gestures should reinforce dignity and equality, not hierarchy.

The controversy becomes more significant........

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