Can't support Nikhil Kumaraswamy: Congress workers

By: BK Laxmikantha and KR Rajendra Kumar

MANDYA: Battlelines firmed up against Nikhil Kumaraswamy’s candidature in Mandya constituency, with several Congress leaders claiming they cannot force party workers to approach people seeking votes for the JD(S) leader.


M Prasanna, Nagamangala Block chief and follower of former minister N Chaluvarayaswamy, said on Tuesday: “If we obey directions of the Congress high command and support Nikhil, then our own party workers will criticize and beat us.”

Prasanna said district Congress workers and fans of actor-politician Ambareesh are demanding that the party give the ticket to Sumalatha Ambareesh. “Majority of Congress workers have expressed their support for Sumalatha,” Prasanna said. “If we campaign for Nikhil and seek votes for the JD(S), then Congress workers and Ambareesh fans will beat us up.”

Other local Congress leaders have virtually upped the ante against the Congress leadership as they are openly declaring support for Sumalatha. Congress leaders are particularly upset with senior Congress minister DK Shivakumar, who held discussions with them in a bid to quell rebellion and get the local unit to support Nikhil.

Anil Kumar, a local Congress worker, said disgruntled leaders have launched “Go Back DK Shivakumar” campaign to save the party in Mandya. “If he (Shivakumar) comes to Mandya to convince us to work for Nikhil, we will firmly tell him it is better that he keeps away from the Mandya Congress unit,” Anil Kumar said. “We don’t have even a single elected Congress leader in Mandya to solve our problems and strengthen the party. How can we protect our support base if we don’t have any power? Sumalatha must be fielded as Congress candidate. If Congress doesn’t field her, we will still support her.”

Meanwhile, Sumalatha met protesters who are staging a dharna in Mandya, opposing Nikhil’s candidature. She requested voters not believe rumours aimed at discrediting her. She also reiterated that she will contest the poll from Mandya. “I will contest the polls and there is no doubt about it,” Sumalatha said.