K’taka Elections 2023: BJP’s Push to Woo Vokkaliga Voters Backfires, Removes Community Leaders from Temporary Doorway

A temporary gate was set up in Mandya with caricatures of Vokkaliga leaders Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda, whom the BJP claims killed 18th-century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan, which has been criticized by electoral Karnataka writers and It was removed overnight after receiving strong criticism from intellectuals.

The gate was installed in Mandya ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state. After the picture went viral, writers and intellectuals called out the ruling party for creating an imaginary warrior to take political advantage.

“The progeny of WhatsApp University, Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda are literally raging on the street. The Sanghis have tied such sedition on the Vokkaliga community for their political gains,” wrote author Chandrakant Katari.

Another activist Vasu HV termed it as an insult to the Mandya and Vokkaliga communities. “Without any doubt, one can say that these two characters on the door are fake and it is an insult to Mandya and Vokkaliga community. Living in Mandya since last 12 years, and based on my experience here it is all false. We must ensure that such lies are not being spread,” he said in his Facebook post.

Meanwhile, Kannada poet and activist Rajendra Prasad, tagging the District Collector of Mandya and the Deputy Commissioner of Mandya, urged the BJP to immediately remove the door and alleged that it was intended to foment communal violence.

“The district administration should not have allowed it to be put up because of communally instigated lies and intentions to create unrest. You should remove these doors otherwise it will be a reason for Congress, JDS, farmer unions and progressive organizations to protest on March 13,” read Rajendra Prasad’s Facebook post.

After strong criticism and protests from writers and activists, the gate was removed overnight and replaced with the name of a priest, Sri Bala Gangadharnath Swamiji.

When asked about the removal of the door overnight, BJP national secretary CT Ravi, who strongly claimed that Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda killed Tipu Sultan, said, “I don’t know why it was removed. But Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda killed Tipu and we will build a permanent gate in his name.

Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister CN Ashwath Narayan also said, “It is in our history and it is not right to question it. Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda are our people and from our land. They should be treated as fanatics instead of Uri and Nanje Gowda.” Tipu should be questioned.

The BJP claimed that Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda – two brothers belonging to the Vokkaliga community – killed Tipu Sultan during the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War. Opposition parties alleged that the BJP is spinning this story to tap into the Vokkaliga vote bank, which is crucial for them to come to power.

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