Sumalatha To Contest As An Independent Again, If Denied Ticket For LS Poll

Bengaluru: Speculations are rife at Janata Dal Secular State president and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy would contest from Mandya parliamentary seat as the JDS and Bharatiya Janata Party consensus candidate, taking exception to giving Mandya Lok Sabha seat to JDS Hanakere Sashikumar, a close aide of incumbent Mandya Lok Sabha member Sumalatha Ambareesh on Tuesday sent across a clear message to the leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that their leader would enter the fray as an independent nominee in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls in Mandya, if denied party ticket.

It may be recalled here that Sumalatha Ambareesh won Mandya Lok Sabha seat in 2019 election as an independent nominee against JDS nominee Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and last year she announced her support for BJP.

Now, JDS as joined National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by BJP at the Centre and if rumour is to be believed JDS leader H.D. Kumaraswamy would be the JDS-BJP consensus nominee for the Mandya seat. At a press conference in Mandya, Sashikumar said Sumalatha contest in Mandya is certain if BJP sacrifices the seat to JDS in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls and exuded confidence that BJP would retain Mandya seat and field Sumalatha in the ensuing polls.

To state a few of her achievements, he said Sumalatha as an MP strived hard for imposing a ban on mining and quarry activities around Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir, she was instrumental in restarting Mysugar Factory in Mandya among others to seek votes in the LS poll.

Sashikumar expressed that BJP leaders would retain Mandya seat if it resolves to build a party in Old Mysuru region where Congress and JDS are strong and said a delegation of leaders from Mandya will meet Sumalatha to discuss her candidature. However, a final decision would be left to her to contest.