On Monday, Sumalatha, the South Indian multi-lingual actress and widow of late Karnataka Congress leader M.H. Ambareesh, announced her decision to contest the Lok Sabha Election as an Independent candidate from Mandya.
In 1994, at the peak of his career in acting and persuaded by Deve Gowda, M.H Ambareesh plunged into politics and later in his political career, became a Union Minister in Manmohan Singh-led UPA government.
Sumalatha Ambareesh, wife of late Congress leader MH Ambareesh: I will contest from Mandya as an independent candidate in Lok Sabha elections . #karnataka pic.twitter.com/0lzW2EU1Mt
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2019
Sumalatha told the media in a press briefing that, “People of Mandya had a lot of faith in Ambareesh. I want to take forward his vision for Mandya. I will be contesting the elections as an Independent from the constituency.”
Mandya was represented in Lok Sabha by Ambareesh, who passed away in November 2018.
She also made it clear that she was expecting Congress to field her from the Lok Sabha seat. Sumalatha, also, remarked that the Congress did not contest for Mandya constituency from coalition partner Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S).
However, the BJP has reportedly decided to provide an organised structure and cadre support for Sumalatha’s campaign.
BJP State President BS Yeddyurappa and Sumalatha Ambareesh would meet on Friday (15 March) to give shape to the proposed plan of support, as a report said.
JD-S (Janata Dal-Secular) and Congress are in alliance in the government formed by the two parties in Karnataka.
As part of the seat-sharing agreement between the 2 ruling parties, the Congress will contest in 20 seats and the JD-S is set to contest from 8 seats, including Mandya.
Presently, the seat of Mandya is held by JD-S. Also, CM H.D Kumaraswamy’s son is announced by JD-S as its candidate from the seat of Mandya.