Bengaluru: Karnataka PWD Minister H D Revanna yesterday drew flak for commenting over the entry of actress Sumalatha within months of losing her husband, late Congress MP Ambareesh.
Reacting to Sumalatha’s decision to contest from Mandya, Revanna said she was not grateful to what Chief Minister H D Kumarasawmy did for actor-politician Ambareesh referring to the arrangements made by the state government for his funeral. Ambareesh passed away in November last year.
He however later said he did not say she should not contest elections and refused to apologise after BJP leaders slammed him for his remarks.
Sumalatha had decided to contest the coming Lok Sabha elections from Mandya, which is a stronghold of JDS. Over his comments, she said it was hurting. She pointed out it was an irony that such a statement had been made on International Women’s Day. “Former prime minister Deve Gowda was a father figure to us. Our respect for him will continue. I am deeply hurt with the statement,” she said.
The JD(S) has decided to field actor Nikhil Gowda, son of Kumaraswamy and it always considered Mandya as its citadel having emerged as a party of Vokkaligas.
Condemning Revanna’s remarks, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa said such statements are uncalled for. It does not suit a minister. He further said BJP had not taken any decision on the contest in Mandya. Sumalatha too had not approached the party for ticket, he added while speaking to reporters over the issue.