Mandya, Mar 18: Former actress Sumalatha, widow of late Ambareesh today announced that she would contest the elections from the Mandya Lok Sabha constituency as an Independent candidate.
She will be taking on Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil, who is the JD(S) candidate.
Flanked by actors Darshan, Yash and her son Abhishek, Sumalatha told the media in Bengaluru that she was "compelled" to enter politics because of the love showered on her by the people of Mandya.
She said that the entire Kannada film industry was standing by her and supporting her candidature. She will be filing her nomination in Mandya on April 20.
After the demise of her husband, actor-politician, M H Ambareesh, Sumalatha evinced her interest to contest from Mandya.
She said that she was doing so to carry forward Ambareesh's legacy. She also said that though she was asked to contest from constituencies like Bangalore North and Bangalore South (by the Congress and BJP), she had refused to do so.
"I even denied the MLC post that was offered to me. I am entering politics for personal gain. I am doing this for the people of Mandya. I have heeded the people's request. It is Mandya or nothing for me. I am going to fight for Mandya. I am not scared of losing," she added.
Sumalatha, who had sought the Congress ticket, said that she had done so as her husband was with the party.
The Congress, however, owing to its coalition compulsions, denied her the ticket, stating that the JD(S) held the constituency.
Congress leaders including Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar, KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao and Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah had declined to field her.
Despite this, Sumalatha said she was hopeful of a ticket, and had maintained that she would wait for a final announcement from the Congress high command. While she waited, she went campaigning around the Mandya district.
Sumalatha had remained resolute as she was strongly backed by the local Congress leaders, who were upset with the state leaders for ceding Mandya to the JD(S).
During the press conference, she reiterated that the local Congress leaders were facing identity and existential crisis in Mandya and that there was need to revive the party in the district.
Irked by the growing popularity of Sumalatha and the "politics" behind her candidature, the JD(S), got bullish by launching a tirade against both her and Ambareesh.
While Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy took digs at Ambareesh, his brother H D Revanna made disparaging and sexist remarks against Sumalatha. JD(S) Minister D C Thammanna was among those who attacked her.
When it became apparent that the Congress was in no position to field her, Sumalatha last week intensified her parleys with the BJP, which wanted to cash in on the situation.
Last week she even went and met former union minister S M Krishna and sought his support.
A section of BJP leaders were keen on fielding Sumalatha. The party high command, however, decided not to give her the ticket. It is, however, likely to extend her external support.
Mangaluru, Feb 28: In a shocking incident, an engineering student has committed suicide on the railway track at the Someshwara railway station near Ullal on the outskirts of the city.
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