Now, Karnataka BJP leader dares Rahul Gandhi to marry dalit girl

Former minister Govind Karjol posed this challenge at a programme organised by the BJP Slum Morcha Siddaramaiah had earlier said that if BJP leaders were so concerned about dalits' welfare, they should marry into their families With elections scheduled for next year, marrying dalits has become a poll card for politicians in Karnataka

After BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee working president Dinesh Gundurao fought over marrying dalits, now former minister and BJP leader Govind Karjol has dared AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi to marry a dalit girl.

At a programme organised by the BJP Slum Morcha unit in Bengaluru on Tuesday, Govind Karjol posed a 'maha challenge' for the Congress leaders in the State. Karjol said that if Congress is so much concerned about dalits, let their leader Rahul Gandhi marry a dalit girl. He even went on to say that "We have a girl ready for Rahul. Will he marry?"

It is not the first time that the politicians in Karnataka are making marrying dalit, a poll card. It all began from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who had taken a dig at BJP state president for having food at dalits houses. Calling it a gimmick, Siddaramaiah had stated that said "If Yeddyurappa wants to follow the principles of Basavanna and really show some concern for problems faced by dalits, he should marry his children into dalit families."

This had set of series of war of words between the Congress and BJP leaders. Reacting to Siddaramaiah's comment, BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje had commented that "Why KPCC working president Dinesh Gundu Rao has not married a dalit? Everyone knows whom is married to." This had invited wrath from Dinesh Gundu Rao's wife Tabassum too who had taken objection to BJP MP commenting on their personal lives.

Now, BJP leader Govind Karjol has challenged Rahul Gandhi to marry a dalit girl. With elections scheduled for next year, politicians in Karnataka are making this an issue in the election year. Are Congress leaders ready to take on this challenge now?