Sumalatha Ambareesh gives HDK's roadshow a miss

MANDYA : Incumbent Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambareesh, who joined BJP earlier this month, skipped campaigning for NDA candidate HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday.

Sumalatha had reportedly promised a delegation of JD(S) and BJP functionaries on Tuesday that she would participate in Kumaraswamy’s concluding roadshow. Her absence stirred curiosity, especially given her historical conflict with Kumaraswamy, the JD(S) state president, who is seeking election from Mandya while she remains on the sidelines after BJP denied her the ticket to contest.

Interestingly, actor Dar shan, who had participated in Sumalatha’s campaigns in 2019 when she contested as an independent against Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil, has now thrown his support behind Star Chandru, the Congress candidate in Mandya.

Kumaraswamy refused to react to Sumalatha’s absence and instead criticised Congress for mocking his tears.
“I’m crying for my people. Only those who have concern for society understand the pain behind tears,” he said.
In Hassan, JD(S) supremo and former PM HD Deve Gowda, while campaigning for grandson Prajwal Revanna, said Sumalatha’s “non-cooperation” would not impact the outcome in Mandya.

He said he was disappoint ed over the lack of cooperation from “certain BJP functionaries” in Mandya and Hassan, despite the parties being allies. “Sumalatha did not support to the JD(S) candidate in Mandya, and former BJP MLA Preetham Gowda did not campaign in Hassan,” Gowda said.

Meanwhile, N Cheluvarayaswamy, district incharge minister of Mandya, who was campaigning for Star Chandru, questioned Kumaraswamy’s contribution to Mandya. He cited the unresolved Cauvery crisis as an example. Cheluvarayaswamy also said that if Kumaraswamy wins from the Mandya, his family will wield significant influence over the district.