Mandya: Newly elected Member of Parliament from Mandya, Sumalatha Ambareesh, promised the constituency's people here on Wednesday that her priority was to protect the interests of the district's farmers. Noting that the Cauvery was the lifeline of the people of Mandya, Mysuru, Chamarajangar, Bengaluru, Tumakuru and Ramanagara, she said the elected representatives of the Cauvery basin area must work together to resolve any issues concerning the river.
"I am ready to go to them if the eight JD(S) legislators call me to discuss the development of Mandya. Around 7.5 lakh people may have voted for me, but all 20 lakh voters are my people," she declared at a function organised by her supporters to thank the voters for her victory . The event also celebrated the 67th birth anniversary of her late husband and former minister, M H Ambareesh.
The actor- turned- politician said it was for the first time in 30 years that she was celebrating her husband's birthday in his absence. "In future I will celebrate the birth anniversary of Ambareesh in Mandya every year till my last breath," she added emotionally.
Recalling her experience during the election campaign when JD(S) leaders and workers heaped abuse on her, Ms Sumalatha said she did not react to them to give the election a new meaning and the people of Mandya had given a fitting reply to her critics by electing her with a thumping majority. "I will tread the path of Ambareesh, who didn't have a single enemy in his three decades of politics and serve the people of Mandya," the new MP added.
