‘Bro, Give Me Gyanesh’: As Republicans Lose In US Midterms, Gyanesh Kumar Becomes India’s Viral Punchline
New Delhi: Donald Trump’s mid-term troubles in America have given Indian social media an unexpected obsession: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Within hours of reports that Trump’s Republicans had suffered sweeping losses, X and other platforms were filled with jokes portraying Kumar as the missing ingredient in the US president’s campaign, PTI reported.
In fact, the jokes were not really about America. They were aimed at India’s Election Commission and at claims by the opposition that elections in India involve “vote chori,” or vote theft.
Many users posted funny fake news items. Some said Gyanesh Kumar was going to the US to help Trump. Others joked that Trump wanted Kumar to conduct American elections or teach US officials how to run elections “impartially.”
Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke wrote: “Gyanesh Kumar would’ve never let this happen to Trump.” He added the hashtag “just saying.”
Another user wrote that Trump “badly needs a Gyanesh.”
Politicians Also Join In
Congress leader Pawan Khera mocked Trump by writing: “Trump Sahib, if you had taken Gyanesh along, you wouldn’t have had to witness this day today.”
Activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan made fun of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a fake conversation. He wrote: “Modi: ‘I am sorry I couldn’t send Gyanesh to you my Phrand! I had to first take care of myself. But now the people here have confined him inside his house! He is unable to even help me now!’”
One meme showed Trump entering a room where Modi was waiting. Its caption read: “Bro, give me Gyanesh.”
Why Trump Lost
The jokes came after Trump’s Republican Party suffered major losses in the US mid-term elections. The Democratic Party reportedly won control of Congress and several important governor posts.
Republicans also lost in states where they were expected to do well, including Texas, Georgia and Iowa. Trump had asked voters to support his party as if he himself were on the ballot.
Many people blamed Trump’s policies, especially the war on Iran, for higher living costs and diesel prices.
The India Connection
Opposition leaders and activists used the US results to repeat their allegations against Gyanesh Kumar. They claim there were problems in voter lists during recent Indian elections and accuse him of helping the ruling party.
They are demanding his resignation.
The BJP rejects these allegations. It says the opposition is creating trouble and blaming others for its own election losses.
For now, the US election result has given Indian social media a new joke: Trump lost because he did not have Gyanesh Kumar.