Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's office is reportedly spending nearly Rs 54 lakh per month on managing his social media accounts, a total of around Rs 3 crore from October 2023 to March 2024, as revealed by a Right to Information (RTI) request. This expenditure has raised concerns among citizens and activists, particularly as the Congress government struggles to fund various development projects. RTI activist Marlinga Gowda Mali Patil highlighted the hefty costs at a time when contractors are reportedly not being paid due to financial constraints. Officials from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) confirmed the spending but noted it is significantly less than the over Rs 2 crore monthly costs incurred by previous administrations. The payments are made to The Policy Front, a firm managing Siddaramaiah's social media with a dedicated team of about 35 employees. Amidst this controversy, Siddaramaiah is also promoting his government's 'Five Guarantees' program aimed at providing significant social support.