Bengaluru: The war of words between the Congress and the JDS leaders on the Mandya Lok Sabha constituency election has taken the state politics to another low. Nagamangala MLA, JDS leader Suresh Gowda alleged that Congress leaders are playing ‘Shikhandi politics’ (doing politics using third genders) in Mandya using a woman, which was strongly objected by the Congress state unit.
Speaking to the reporters in Mandya, Suresh Gowda made this statement in a direct reference to independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh.
Shikhandi is one of the characters of the Hindu epic Mahabharatha. It has been stated that Arjuna used Shikhandi to defeat Bhishma. Drawing a similarity, Gowda said that the situation is the same in Mandya as well.
Irked by the statement of Suresh Gowda, state Congress leaders decided to approach CM HD Kumaraswamy. “Our leaders have already brought the issue to the notice of CM HD Kumaraswamy. He is expected to talk to Suresh Gowda and direct him to tender an apology,” said a Congress leader.
