When Karnataka MLA Nayana Motamma Responded To Moral Policing

Why politicians are expected to dress in a certain way? If in their leisure they chose to wear something that doesn't align with their duty clothes, what is the problem? Does someone's clothing choices affect their work? This is what Nayana Motamma, a Karnataka MLA has been asking after supporters of her political opponents reportedly ran a slander campaign against her. 

Motamma is a member of the Indian National Congress and was elected to the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from Mudigere in 2023. The former lawyer Nayana Motamma criticised political rivals attempting to malign her by spreading images of her wearing western dresses and other clothing that differs from the sarees she wore during the election campaign. She pointed out this was done to shame her. Generally, women politicians are shamed and used their personal life to distort their public image. Her character is used to take revenge and satisfy the ego. Not many can digest the victory of women, especially in the field, where hunger for power is cutthroat. 

Motamma shared some of the visuals circulated by political rivals. The visuals were collages of photos from personal and political life. The personal life photos depicted her dancing, running, taking selfies, and spending time with her husband and friends in the pool. Motamma speaking to The News Minute pointed out that- It was basically about the dressing culture — the that I’m portraying myself as a saree-clad woman, when ‘this’ is what I’m ‘actually’ doing. Why do people think attacking women's characters can solve all their problems? It has been out there when a person can't win over a woman, the first thing he does is attacks her character. Because patriarchy had made it solid, attacking a women's character can break her down. Motamma also has been of the opinion that people have set this narrative because they had nothing else to counter her. 

Motamma questioned does her personal life affects her job as a legislator. Am I unable to perform my job because I wear certain clothes? She is right! Do clothes decide her productivity or her sound mind? It is her life and personal space to choose what she wants. Motamma never removed her social media posts, according to her that is part of her personality and nowhere affect her responsibilities. However, on a complaint filed by Motamma, the posts were taken down from BJP Shivamogga’s Facebook page. 

Suggested Reading: Shorts Or Bikinis? When Women’s Clothes Become More Important Than The Game