Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda are real characters: Shoba Karandlaje

Amid the controversy surrounding Vokkaliga chieftans Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda, Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje told that they are not the fictional characters.

Addressing a press conference Shobha Karandlaje said "the Congress and JD(S) have argued that Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda did not even exist.

The book Suvarna Mandya has references to their fight against Tipu Sultan."

A section of people in the old Mysuru belt and some ruling BJP leaders have claimed that erstwhile Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan did not die fighting the British, but was killed by two alleged Vokkaliga chieftains Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda.

While, Congress and JD(S) leaders have maintained that Uri Gowda and Nanje Gowda did not even exist, and that they might just be fictional characters, the BJP, which is trying to make inroads into the Vokkaliga-dominated 'Old Mysuru' region ahead of the upcoming Assembly election in the state, seems to be using the duo as their latest mascots.

BJP is using them to target Tipu Sultan, and to accuse the Congress and JD(S) of indulging in appeasement politics by celebrating the Muslim ruler. Nirmalanandanatha Mahaswamiji, the chief pontiff of influential the Sri Adichunchanagiri Mahasamsthana Math, on Monday cited the lack of historical evidence to the existence of the two Gowdas and called for putting an end to the issue.

The seer of the Math, which is highly regarded by Vokkaligas, has called for a gathering of information, edicts and historical records about the duo, if any, before arriving at any decision.

It is to be seen whose narrative people are going to buy in the upcoming elections.

Tipu Sultan, also known as the 'Tiger of Mysore', was the son of Sultan Hyder Ali of Mysore and ruled the kingdom of Mysore from 1783 to 1799. Whatever is the truth, the historical debate has turned into a political one and it's now up to the electorate to take a pick.