On a sticky wicket, Nikhil Kumaraswamy now looks to AP CM for poll push
Bengaluru: Janata Dal (Secular) has roped in AP CM N Chandrababu Naidu to canvass for Nikhil Swamy, son of CM H D Kumaraswamy, who is contesting as JD(S) candidate in Mandya, on Monday.
In fact, the CM had said that his party was not in need of any star campaigner as himself and his father and former PM H.D. Deve Gowda were sufficient to manage the LS polls. Now, with the Assembly and LS elections over in AP, Gowda had requested Naidu to campaign for Nikhil following tough fight from Sumalatha Ambareesh, a widow of ex-minister late M.H. Ambareesh and an Independent candidate in Mandya LS seat.
Naidu would hold road shows in Melukote and Pandavapura along with Gowda. Later, he would take part in a public meeting to be held in Pandavapura town at 5 pm. The JD(S) leaders wanted to invite political leaders of other states but that didn’t happen as they were busy in LS polls in their respective states. Since Naidu was said to be available for the campaign, he has been invited to canvass for Nikhil. It seems the JD(S) were worried about Nikhil’s prospects because of which Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy had been campaigning extensively for him in the past three days. On Hassan seat where Prajwal Revanna, son of PWD minister H.D. Revanna was contesting, canvassing was being managed by his father and mother Bhavani Revanna.
Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy continued to hold hectic campaign in Mandya district for the third consecutive day. He, along with tourism minister Sa Ra Mahesh, held road side rallies in K R Nagar taluk to seek votes for his son. He highlighted achievements of the coalition government in the past 11 months, especially `8500 crore for Mandya district, revival of Mysugar Factory, Pandavapura co-operative sugar factory, loan waiver and release of water to canal for paddy cultivation. He also slammed Sumalatha while questioning her for contesting the LS polls. The massive turnout of people during campaigning by two film actors — Darshan Tugudeepa and Yash for her — left him worried. Besides, her reply to every allegation made by JD(S) leaders shocked him. The media survey indicating Sumalatha’s winning chances forced the CM to spend 10-12 hours on the road daily to garner people’s support.
