<p class="bodytext">Even as new political permutations were being stitched amid huddles and high drama in Karnataka on Tuesday, a promotional post on social media by state-run Kerala Tourism provided some laughs on the sidelines.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“After the rough and tumble of the #KarnatakaVerdict, we invite all the MLAs to unwind at the safe & beautiful resorts of God’s Own Country,” Kerala Tourism posted on its official Twitter handle and Facebook page.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The post came soon after election trends confirmed that none of the three major political parties in the neighbouring state – the BJP, the Congress and the JD(S) – would secure a majority on its own.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The post, clearly, was a pointer to a brand of “resort politics” increasingly identified with poll-season Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. But, its use of sly humour in a promotional message clicked on the social media. In over two hours, the tweet had close to 5,500 retweets. Though the trolls and usual suspects did surface and set off a discussion trail on Kerala’s political affiliations, many lauded the tourism body for its innovative marketing push.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“This is proactive business development” was how one reacted to the tweet while there were others who felt the administrator of the Twitter handle deserved a pay raise.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Kerala Tourism, the state’s official tourism promotion body, has ended its message with its promotional tag #ComeOutAndPlay. It remains to be seen if the legislators from Karnataka, and the leaders who herd them, take a cue.</p>
<p class="bodytext">Even as new political permutations were being stitched amid huddles and high drama in Karnataka on Tuesday, a promotional post on social media by state-run Kerala Tourism provided some laughs on the sidelines.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“After the rough and tumble of the #KarnatakaVerdict, we invite all the MLAs to unwind at the safe & beautiful resorts of God’s Own Country,” Kerala Tourism posted on its official Twitter handle and Facebook page.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The post came soon after election trends confirmed that none of the three major political parties in the neighbouring state – the BJP, the Congress and the JD(S) – would secure a majority on its own.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The post, clearly, was a pointer to a brand of “resort politics” increasingly identified with poll-season Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. But, its use of sly humour in a promotional message clicked on the social media. In over two hours, the tweet had close to 5,500 retweets. Though the trolls and usual suspects did surface and set off a discussion trail on Kerala’s political affiliations, many lauded the tourism body for its innovative marketing push.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“This is proactive business development” was how one reacted to the tweet while there were others who felt the administrator of the Twitter handle deserved a pay raise.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Kerala Tourism, the state’s official tourism promotion body, has ended its message with its promotional tag #ComeOutAndPlay. It remains to be seen if the legislators from Karnataka, and the leaders who herd them, take a cue.</p>