<p>With just a fortnight left for the Lok Sabha election, the Janata Dal (Secular) leaders are playing the caste card to polarise the big chunk of Vokkaliga voters in Mandya parliamentary constituency.</p>.<p>The JD(S) leadership has reportedly entrusted the responsibility of playing the caste card on MP L R Shivaramegowda, who is using the ‘Sumalatha Naidu’ weapon to woo Vokkaligas.</p>.<p>Despite drawing criticism from various quarters, the sitting MP has continued to use the caste card at his political speeches in the district.</p>.<p>This is not the first time, caste is being used as a weapon to attack the opponent. During the Lok Sabha bypolls in 2013, the opponents had used the caste card to prove that Congress candidate Ramya was not a ‘Gowdathi’. But, that did not work then. The same tactics were used in the 2014 elections, and Ramya lost with a narrow margin. However, the caste card was played efficiently during the Assembly elections, last year, at all the seven constituencies.</p>.<p>Now, the party leaders have resorted to the old trick saying that Sumalatha is not a Gowdathi from the day she decided to contest the polls from Mandya. MLA K T Srikantegowda had set the ball rolling: “Sumalatha is not a Gowdathi and hails from Andhra Pradesh.”</p>.<p>The JD(S) leadership had distanced itself from Srikantegowda’s statement, initially. But the party has raked up the caste issue again through Shivaramegowda, said a local JD(S) leader.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Liberals</strong></p>.<p>Interestingly, the leaders who are playing the caste cards have a liberal outlook on life. Shivaramegowda, who is creating ripples with casteist remarks, has allowed inter-caste marriage of his children. The same holds true to Transport Minister D C Thammanna. But, when it comes to politics, they try to play caste politics, say locals.</p>.<p>Mandya constituency is witnessing a fever-pitched battle between Independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh, and coalition nominee Nikhil Kumaraswamy.</p>
<p>With just a fortnight left for the Lok Sabha election, the Janata Dal (Secular) leaders are playing the caste card to polarise the big chunk of Vokkaliga voters in Mandya parliamentary constituency.</p>.<p>The JD(S) leadership has reportedly entrusted the responsibility of playing the caste card on MP L R Shivaramegowda, who is using the ‘Sumalatha Naidu’ weapon to woo Vokkaligas.</p>.<p>Despite drawing criticism from various quarters, the sitting MP has continued to use the caste card at his political speeches in the district.</p>.<p>This is not the first time, caste is being used as a weapon to attack the opponent. During the Lok Sabha bypolls in 2013, the opponents had used the caste card to prove that Congress candidate Ramya was not a ‘Gowdathi’. But, that did not work then. The same tactics were used in the 2014 elections, and Ramya lost with a narrow margin. However, the caste card was played efficiently during the Assembly elections, last year, at all the seven constituencies.</p>.<p>Now, the party leaders have resorted to the old trick saying that Sumalatha is not a Gowdathi from the day she decided to contest the polls from Mandya. MLA K T Srikantegowda had set the ball rolling: “Sumalatha is not a Gowdathi and hails from Andhra Pradesh.”</p>.<p>The JD(S) leadership had distanced itself from Srikantegowda’s statement, initially. But the party has raked up the caste issue again through Shivaramegowda, said a local JD(S) leader.</p>.<p class="CrossHead"><strong>Liberals</strong></p>.<p>Interestingly, the leaders who are playing the caste cards have a liberal outlook on life. Shivaramegowda, who is creating ripples with casteist remarks, has allowed inter-caste marriage of his children. The same holds true to Transport Minister D C Thammanna. But, when it comes to politics, they try to play caste politics, say locals.</p>.<p>Mandya constituency is witnessing a fever-pitched battle between Independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh, and coalition nominee Nikhil Kumaraswamy.</p>
