Mandya: Mandya Independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh has organised a huge convention in Mandya city on April 16 when the campaign concludes, as a show of strength.
She said she would make an appeal to voters of the district at the proposed convention to support her to fulfil the dreams of her husband late Ambareesh. Fans of Ambareesh are also planning to hold a bike rally to draw people’s attention. Two star campaigners — Mr Darshan Tugudeepa and Mr Yash — who have been campaigning for Sumalatha in the last two weeks, producer-director Rockline Venkatesh and actor Doddanna will also attend the meet.
Sumalatha alleged that JD(S) leaders led by CM H.D. Kumaraswamy were misusing the government machinery to defeat her and were targeting her with remarks made in bad taste besides threatening her supporters with cases. Cases of caning of her supporters have been reported in several villages, she claimed. She said that anticipating trouble by the JD(S) during the April 16 rally, she had brought this to the notice of poll officials and had sought CRPF cover for herself, her son and actor Abhishek Gowda, Darshan and Yash. She also appealed to people not to sell their votes for just Rs 500 or Rs 1000 which would be ‘distributed’ by the JD(S) as the political party would recover the money from projects approved for the district. “The money given to you may last a day or two but the party will recover that money in some other form. You should reject the money and vote for a suitable candidate who can be your voice in the Lok Sabha,” she added.
Meanwhile, Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka Mr Sanjeev Kumar has sought a report on the security provided to Sumalatha Ambareesh after she expressed fears of a threat to her life. A notice has been served to DG&IGP Ms Neelamani Raju asking her to furnish a reply within a day.
