In a stunning display of political appeasement, the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) recently promoted a tour package to Wayanad not just any destination, but the Lok Sabha constituency of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Kerala. The move has sparked widespread outrage, with many asking why Karnataka’s tourism board is busy glorifying a neighbouring state instead of highlighting its own treasures. While Congress defenders call it a “harmless tourism post,” critics see it as yet another case of Congress bending over backwards to please its high command even if it means sidelining Karnataka’s own people and priorities.
Congress Promotes Kerala, Forgets Karnataka
The controversy began when the official X (formerly Twitter) handle of KSTDC shared a promotional post saying, “Seeking thrill or tranquillity? Find both in Wayanad! Trek scenic trails, chase waterfalls & meet the wild with KSTDC. Your perfect nature escape awaits.” The post also carried the tagline, “Wayanad is waiting for you.”
What seemed like an innocuous tourism post quickly escalated into a political storm. Citizens and opposition leaders slammed the Congress government for promoting a district outside the state, especially one represented by Priyanka Gandhi, who has little to do with Karnataka. One angry user asked, “When did Wayanad become part of Karnataka?” Another remarked, “KSTDC should promote Karnataka’s hills, not Priyanka Gandhi’s constituency.”
The backlash was swift because Karnataka’s tourism sector itself has been struggling for attention and funding. With several unexplored gems like Chikkamagaluru, Sakleshpur, Hampi, and Kudremukh awaiting better infrastructure and marketing, citizens were outraged that KSTDC found it appropriate to spend resources advertising Kerala instead.
Seeking thrill or tranquillity? Find both in Wayanad!
Trek scenic trails, chase waterfalls & meet the wild with KSTDC.
Your perfect nature escape awaits. https://t.co/7H16iVsvqi#WayanadDiaries #TravelWithKSTDC #NatureEscape pic.twitter.com/hJIOc9TZbm— K.S.T.D.C. (@kstdc) October 28, 2025
Siddaramaiah’s ‘High Command Appeasement’
The opposition BJP wasted no time in tearing into Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, accusing him of putting the interests of the Gandhi family above those of Karnataka’s people. BJP leader and Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka posted a scathing statement on X, questioning Siddaramaiah’s loyalties “How long will Karnataka tolerate a Chief Minister who behaves like Wayanad’s District Collector and fund raiser? You signed off ₹10 crore of Karnataka taxpayers’ money to Wayanad at lightning speed. You gave ₹15 lakh to a family of a man killed by an elephant in Wayanad. You promised 100 houses in Wayanad after a landslide. And now, your own tourism corporation is promoting Wayanad tourism Priyanka Gandhi’s constituency.”
Ashoka’s words resonated widely because they struck a chord with ordinary Kannadigas who have been struggling with real issues from floods in North Karnataka to delayed compensation for farmers. He pointedly asked, “Where is the relief for Kalaburagi, Raichur, Yadgir, Bidar, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, and Belagavi? Where is the urgency for our farmers? What are your priorities?”
The BJP leader’s remarks painted a clear picture a government more concerned about its image in Delhi than the plight of its own people.
Hypocrisy and Political Double Standards
Defenders of the Congress government claimed that tourism “transcends state boundaries” and that KSTDC had earlier promoted destinations in Tamil Nadu and Goa as well. But that argument doesn’t hold water when viewed in context. KSTDC has never promoted any other destination in Kerala before, and certainly not one tied to a Congress family member.
This selective enthusiasm exposes the hypocrisy at play. Congress and CPI(M), who are bitter rivals in Kerala and fought against each other in the Lok Sabha elections, and suddenly Siddaramaiah found a common ground when it comes to appeasing Priyanka Gandhi’s constituency. How can the same party that accuses CPI(M) of violence and corruption in Kerala now go out of its way to promote tourism there if not for political appeasement?
ಸಿಎಂ @siddaramaiah ಅವರೇ,
ಕೇರಳದ ಶಾಸಕನಂತೆ, ವಯನಾಡಿನ ಚಂದಾ ವಸೂಲಿಗಾರನಂತೆ ವರ್ತಿಸುವ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಯನ್ನು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಜನತೆ ಇನ್ನೆಷ್ಟು ದಿನ ಸಹಿಸಬೇಕು?
✔️ ಎರಡು ತಿಂಗಳ ಹಿಂದಷ್ಟೇ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ತೆರಿಗೆ ಹಣದಿಂದ ₹10 ಕೋಟಿ ರೂಪಾಯಿಯನ್ನ ವಯನಾಡಿಗೆ ಬಿಡುಗಡೆ ಮಾಡಿದಿರಿ.
✔️ ಕೇರಳದಲ್ಲಿ ಆನೆ ದಾಳಿಗೆ ಮೃತಪಟ್ಟ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಯ ಕುಟುಂಬಕ್ಕೆ… https://t.co/kZGo7WYw05
— R. Ashoka (@RAshokaBJP) October 30, 2025
The hypocrisy is glaring Congress leaders in Karnataka claim to represent “Kannada pride,” yet their policies and publicity machinery work overtime to glorify Kerala. The message this sends to Karnataka’s youth, entrepreneurs, and tourism stakeholders is deeply demoralizing.
Another senior BJP leader, C.T. Ravi, joined the chorus of criticism, posting on X “The KSTDC, which is supposed to develop tourism in Karnataka, is inviting Kannadigas to Wayanad. Does Wayanad belong to Karnataka? Or has KSTDC become Kerala? The Congress government is going to pawn the honour of Kannada Nadu to please its party leader Priyanka Gandhi.”
This growing anger is not just about one post. It’s about a pattern a Congress government that constantly seeks approval from Delhi while neglecting Karnataka’s pressing concerns. From farmer compensation delays to poor infrastructure in northern districts, the state’s leadership seems more focused on optics than outcomes.
In fact, the very idea that Karnataka’s funds and promotional platforms are being used to boost a Congress leader’s constituency in another state reeks of arrogance and entitlement. It’s not tourism it’s political PR, cleverly disguised as development.
The Wayanad tourism controversy is not a minor misstep; it symbolizes the misplaced priorities of the Congress government in Karnataka. When flood victims wait for compensation, when farmers struggle for relief, and when Kannada culture and tourism are under-promoted, the government’s obsession with pleasing the Gandhi family looks nothing short of betrayal.
Congress’s defenders may call it “nationwide tourism,” but the people see it for what it is high command appeasement. Karnataka does not need a Chief Minister who acts like a brand ambassador for Wayanad or a fundraiser for Delhi. It needs a leader who puts Karnataka first.
