Udupi: The ‘Kiss of Love’ in Karnataka campaign turned into a political slugfest, after Urban Development Minister Vinay Kumar Sorake made a sarcastic remark against former BJP minister and Member of Parliament, Shobha Karandlaje, on Saturday.

Responding to the media persons in Udupi on Saturday, Sorake said that it is the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who has asked the home minister to take a call on it and said he has nothing to do on it.

But when more questions followed on his reaction to opposition from BJP leaders like Jagadish Shettar and Shobha Karandlaje, he remarked: “She is an expert in that.” And when media persons quizzed him further, he added “She is an expert in what you asked (Kiss of Love).”

Later in the day, BJP district president Tingale Vikramarjun Hegde termed the statement of Vinay Kumar Sorake as derogatory. “The behavior of the minister clearly reflects the level of his culture. His remark is an insult to the culturally refined populace of this district. Therefore, he should tender an unconditional and open apology to the people of the district,” Tingale said.