Amul Kiosks In Bengaluru Metro Trigger Dairy Politics In Karnataka

After Amul signed a license agreement to put up kiosks at 10 metro stations in Bengaluru, the opposition party in the state is slamming the ruling Congress government for choosing Amul over state’s own brand Nandini.

The Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd. (Amul) has signed a licence agreement with Bengaluru Metro Rail Corp. to set up kiosks at metro stations in the city.

Following this move, opposition leaders in the state have slammed the Congress government. BJP MP PC Mohan in a X post said, “Ahead of the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, Congress falsely accused BJP of favouring outsiders. But now, the same Congress govt, which oversees BMRCL’s operations and maintenance, has enabled Amul kiosks at 10 Metro stations to displace Nandhini. A classic case of hypocrisy.”

Opposition party Janata Dal Secular called out the Congress government as well. “The Congress government has failed to create a competitive market for Nandini milk products, threatening the interests of the Kannadigas' proud brand 'Nandini',” the party said in a X post.

Responding to the criticism, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that Amul applied through the global tender floated by the BMRCL, and The Karnataka Milk Federation, which operates the Nandini brand, had not applied.

He has has now instructed KMF to apply and Nandini will be setting up kiosks in eight metro stations.

The politically charged Amul versus Nandini conflict dates back to last year, when Amul's entry into Karnataka sparked significant backlash. The move stirred controversy during the poll season, with the then-ruling BJP government facing criticism from the Congress for failing to safeguard the interests of homegrown brand Nandini. Congress leaders accused the BJP of allowing Amul to encroach on Nandini’s market share, arguing that it undermined local farmers and a well-established state dairy cooperative.