HD Revanna, the de-facto Chief Minister of the Karnataka, who is often known for insensitive remarks has again stirred up controversy after he made crass remarks against actor-turned-politician Sumalatha, wife of late actor Ambareesh.
Speaking to a local media, HD Revanna, the son of former Prime Minister HD Devegowda, made shocking remarks over the widowhood of Sumalatha. He questioned Sumalatha’s intent to contest polls just after her husband veteran actor MH Ambareesh’s death. Sumalatha, who is set to contest against Nikhil Kumaraswamy, the son of Chief Minister Kumaraswamy from Mandya- the fortress of JDS, has pushed the party on the back foot leading to HD Revanna making such derogatory statements.
“It’s not even a month since her husband died and she is already nursing political ambitions and wanting to contest elections. See what level they have gone to,” said HD Revanna, brother of Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.
Ironically, HD Revanna’s such cheap comments came on International Women’s Day. He even said that Sumalatha was not grateful to what Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy had done for actor-politician Ambareesh while referring to the arrangements made by the state government for his funeral. Ambareesh had passed away in November last year.
Meanwhile, Sumalatha reacting to the statements made by HD Revanna said, “Former prime minister Deve Gowda was a father figure to us. Our respect for him will continue. I am deeply hurt by the statement of HD Revanna.”
BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa condemned Revanna’s remarks and said such statements are uncalled for. It does not suit a minister, he told reporters. He said BJP had not taken any decision on the contest in Mandya. Sumalatha too had not approached the party for a ticket, he added.
Mandya Lok Sabha constituency is going to be one of the most crucial battles of 2019 Lok Sabha elections, as Sumalatha is challenging JDS in its own fortress. MH Ambareesh, who claims to be the son of the Mandya soil, had a good connect with Mandya from where he had won three times before losing to JDS. Sumalatha, who intends to contest from Mandya this year enjoys a very good wave among the voters, which has worried the JDS.
The JDS has now parachuted an inexperienced Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who had a devastating acting career, to contest from Mandya as part of a JDS-Congress coalition. The Congress party seems to have vacated the place for its junior party at the expense of Sumalatha. Sumalatha may now contest as an independent in Mandya, who enjoys much larger support than Nikhil Kumaraswamy furthering pushing JDS into desperation.
The Janata Dal (Secular), which is fighting for its relevance, is part of an ‘unholy alliance’ with the dominant Congress in Karnataka. The JDS-Congress coalition is intending to fight the Lok Sabha coalition together. However, party cadres of both the parties are averse to the idea of ceding seats to its coalition partner as Congress is the principal opponent of JDS in a large number of constituencies.
In the past, HD Revanna in a blatant show of insensitivity was caught throwing food packets at flood victims at Hassan, Karnataka. It was reported that some of the people declined to eat the biscuits which were thrown at them, while some others ate the biscuit packets as they were hungry and desperate.
