It’s a vote for Ambareesh’s love & affection, says Sumalatha Ambareesh

She is the first woman independent candidate who has ever won a Lok Sabha election from Karnataka. Sumalatha Ambareesh, widow of actor-politician Ambareesh has created ripples in political circles winning the Mandya Lok Sabha seat defeating Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil in what is considered a bastion of the Janatal Dal(S). Here are excerpts from an interview.

How do you feel now?
Ha ..I am not feeling anything special.

After seeing the assembly segment-wise leads in Mandya, how do you react to the response of voters?
I am very much happy and thrilled to see the leads. Except Nagamangala constituency, I got very good lead in all the other seven Assembly constituencies.

So what is your opinion on the support you got?
I am overwhelmed by the response. It is a clear vote for the love and affection towards Ambareesh. Secondly, Yash and Darshan (Kannada actors) had really worked for me.

There were rumours that you did not have foot soldiers in every polling booth, so till yesterday there was confusion about your prospects?
This was the narrative the other group tried to sell to the media. But I had people who worked in every polling booth and they helped me a lot.

The BJP supported you in the election. Are you going to join that party?
The victory has just started sinking in. I will think over this in the next couple of days and then I will take a call.

How do you feel being the first woman Independent from Karnataka to win the Lok Sabha polls?
It's a very big responsibility. I am new to this field. I have to learn a lot and people expect more from me. I have to live up to their expectations.