G.T. Deve Gowda: Seven defeated congress netas backing Sumalatha Ambareesh

Mandya: In what could be a warning to poll managers of the JD(S)-Congress coalition in Mandya, Higher Education Minister G.T. Deve Gowda said things have gone out of control in the Lok Sabha constituency as all seven Congress leaders who were defeated in the May 2018 Assembly polls by JD(S) candidates, are campaigning for Independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh.

Though JD(S) leaders and workers are helping Congress candidates in all 20 Lok Sabha constituencies they are contesting in the state, Congress workers are not campaigning for JD(S) candidates in the constituencies allotted to them. "I spoke to former minister N Cheluvayaswamy but he refused to work for Nikhil Kumaraswamy (JD-S candidate). Instead of co-operating with us, Congress leaders are making remarks against Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy".

On film actors entering politics, Mr Deve Gowda said Kannada thespian Dr Rajkumar is still adored by millions of people though he was not interested in politics. Another veteran actor, Dr Vishnuvardhan also did not enter politics while late Ambareesh accidentally did enter politics and witnessed several ups and downs. Except for Ambareesh, no other Kannada film actor could manage to remain in politics for long, he said in what seemed to be a reference to actress Sumalatha contesting the Mandya poll and actors Darshan and Yash backing her.

"People gather in large number to see cine actors campaigning for politicians but they take their own decisions at the time of voting. Darshan and Women and Child Welfare Minister Dr Jayamala had campaigned for Siddaramaiah(former CM) in Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency and hundreds of people had gathered to see them. Ultimately, the people voted for me," Mr Gowda recalled.

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