Bengaluru: Even as Janata Dal (Secular) is planning to field Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy 's son and actor Nikhil Kumaraswamy as party candidate for the Mandya Lok Sabha seat, the Kannada film industry has resolved to field Ms Sumalatha Ambareesh, wife of former minister late M.H. Ambareesh, from the seat.
This was decided at a closed-door meeting of the film fraternity after a function held in Mandya to pay tributes to Ambareesh on Saturday.
The meeting was attended by Mr Rockline Venkatesh, Mr Doddanna and others who favoured fielding any member from Ambareesh’s family – Ms Sumalatha or her son and upcoming artist Abhishek Gowda. They also held a separate meeting with Ms Sumalatha and Mr Abhishek Gowda, who wanted his mother to contest to fulfil the dreams of Mr Ambareesh.
Sources told Deccan Chronicle that she initially refused to enter politics, but later agreed after the film fraternity promised to work hard for her victory. They said that she will contest as an independent if Congress and JD(S) fail to make her the candidate. They said there has been a great sympathy for Mr Ambareesh in the district, if the turnout for Saturday’s function is any indication.
Cong happy
Mandya District Congress president Ashok Kumar too urged party leaders to field either Ms Sumalatha or Mr Abhishek.
Terming Mr Nikhil Kumaraswamy an outsider, Mr Kumar said that since Mr Ambareesh was popular in the district, someone from his family should be given ticket by Congress or JD(S).
Cash relief
Ms Sumalatha Ambareesh and Mr Abhishek Gowda met families of two people who committed suicide after hearing the demise of Mr Ambareesh in November last year. They were given Rs 30,000 each by Ms Sumalatha. Local leaders were present in the occasion.
