This heartwarming moment from the 2018 Karnataka elections remains a memorable example of unusual pre-voting rituals in Indian politics.

Meal With A Monkey A Day, Keeps The Election Blues Away

With voting still going on in parts of Karnataka, the election is underway in full swing. Amidst the very highly anticipated election, a light-hearted moment was reported last Saturday (12 May 2018).

A journalist shared a video of a meal being shared by a man and a monkey, on social media…

#KarnatakaElections2018
Tumkur chikkanayakanahalli MLA from JdS CB Suresh Babu feeding raagi mudde to monkey before proceeding to vote @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/8scNSPbu5c

— Ashwini M Sripad (@AshwiniMS_TNIE) May 12, 2018

The journalist, Ashwini M Sripad, who works with The New Indian Express, took to Twitter to share a video of CB Suresh Babu, MLA of Tumkur Chikkanayakanahalli, feeding a monkey ragi mudde (ragi flour cooked to make balls out of it).

It is a popular dish in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka (usually served with dal or chicken curry).

In the video, the MLA can be seen casually sitting at the dining table and (fearlessly) feeding the monkey the ragi mudde with his hands.  He is seen feeding the monkey and then continuing to eat the simple meal himself.

The politician, belonging to the Janata Dal (Secular) party,  looked pretty relaxed, as the monkey felt right at home and pranced about his table.

According to Ashwini Sripad, Suresh Babu fed the monkey before he proceeded to go and cast his vote in the on-going Assembly election.

Apparently, the monkey decided to pay a visit to the MLA’s house early in the morning. The MLA’s supporters let it in, with a belief that it could bring in good luck to the MLA, who is looking for a hattrick win. Babu gave the monkey a bite of the mudde and some curry with it. But, the monkey did not seem to enjoy the dish, as it walks away when offered more. When offered some upma by one of his worker’s, the monkey proceeds to have it and seemingly enjoys it, as it proceeds to have more of it.

Suresh Babu, who is the son of former MLA late N Basavaiah, is currently facing a tough fight in the election, against BJP’s J C Madhuswami and Congress candidate T J Santhosh, son of Law Minister T B Jayachandra.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is CB Suresh Babu and what is his political position?

CB Suresh Babu is an MLA from Tumkur Chikkanayakanahalli constituency in Karnataka, representing the Janata Dal (Secular) party. He gained viral attention during the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections for his unique pre-voting ritual captured on camera by journalist Ashwini M Sripad.

What is ragi mudde and why did the MLA feed it to the monkey?

Ragi mudde is a traditional South Indian dish made from ragi flour, popular in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. CB Suresh Babu fed it to a monkey that visited his house early on voting day, reportedly as the animal was present at his residence when supporters let it in.

When did this Karnataka monkey meal incident go viral?

The incident occurred on May 12, 2018, during the ongoing Karnataka Assembly elections. Journalist Ashwini M Sripad from The New Indian Express posted the video on Twitter the same day, which quickly went viral on social media platforms across India.

What was the reaction to CB Suresh Babu sharing food with the monkey?

The incident was perceived as a lighthearted and heartwarming moment during the intense election period. The video showed the MLA calmly feeding the monkey ragi mudde before eating the meal himself, showcasing fearlessness and a relaxed demeanor that resonated with social media users.

Did the monkey’s visit to the MLA’s house have any significance?

According to reports, the MLA’s supporters believed the monkey’s unexpected visit could bring good luck before he cast his vote. This reflected local beliefs about animal encounters and auspicious signs during important events like elections in Indian culture.