Bengaluru: For the last several months, the slogan ‘Nikhil Ellidiyappa’ has trended the world over, for its catchy tone and succinct meaning.

It was an exhortation by none other than Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy himself to his son Nikhil during the latter’s film Jaguar audio launch in Mandya.

This slogan became a hit during the Mandya Lok Sabha election when Nikhil was fielded on a JD(S) ticket.

Now, there’s a sort of role reversal, for Kumaraswamy himself is at the receiving end.

Senior BJP leader KS Eshwarappa took on the chief minister over the issue of drought prevailing in the state. In the weeks preceding the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka, Kumaraswamy was busy with things related to his son’s election prospects from Mandya. He was camping there, spending all this energy and resources.

After the elections, he and his father former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda spent time at a resort in Udupi, undergoing various treatments to rejuvenate themselves after the hectic campaigning. This was immediately followed by a trip to Kaapu and then, to Tamil Nadu for participating in rituals.

This is precisely what the BJP is upset about and Eshwarappa asked the chief minister “Kumaraswamy Ellidiyappa?” (Kumaraswamy, where are you?).

Eshwarappa added “Governance in the state has derailed because he (Kumaraswamy) is never in Bengaluru to chair meetings.”

After all the pilgrimaging, Kumaraswamy returned to Bengaluru and held meetings with officials of the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) and chaired a meeting with officials related to implementation of loan waiver on Wednesday (May 8).

And in what appears to give more fodder to the opposition, Kumaraswamy is expected to travel to Kodagu and spend two days at a resort there. The move comes in the wake of several Congress leaders working against his son Nikhil in Mandya. By staying there, it is speculated that he will be in a position not to meet such Congress leaders who are allegedly trying to meet him.

It might be recalled that Kumaraswamy and his son were heavily trolled for the slogan “Nikhil Ellidiyappa”.