Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has said he prefers a simple lifestyle, citing his Rs 50 haircut as an example, even as the BJP criticised the remark by pointing to his declared wealth and expensive possessions.
Speaking at a public interaction on Wednesday, Shivakumar recalled an incident in Delhi when security personnel suggested that his barber come to his residence after he wanted a haircut at his usual shop. The Chief Minister said he refused and instead went to the barber himself, paying just Rs 50 for the haircut.
“I believe in simple living,” Shivakumar said, adding that expensive items associated with him are often gifts from friends. He also referred to a Louis Vuitton muffler gifted by a friend while explaining his preference for a modest lifestyle.
However, the remarks drew criticism from the BJP’s Karnataka unit. The party highlighted Shivakumar’s declared assets of around Rs 1,400 crore in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly election affidavit and referred to luxury items reportedly associated with him.
The BJP accused the Chief Minister of hypocrisy, contrasting his Rs 50 haircut with his substantial declared wealth and high-value possessions.