Bengaluru: Sumalatha Ambareesh to fight as Independent?

Bengaluru: Will Mrs Sumalatha Ambareesh queer the pitch for candidates of JD (S)-Congress and the BJP by entering the fray as an independent in Mandya in forthcoming Lok Sabha polls?

Evidently miffed with Congress leaders for not backing her candidature in Mandya, despite here meetings with top leaders including former chief minister Siddaramaiah, Mrs Sumalatha reportedly turned down an invitation from BJP leaders to contest as a nominee of their party as she has made up her mind to stand as an independent and bank on the groundswell of support in favour of her late husband and former minister M H Ambareesh and make the most of the sympathy factor as well as the actor-politician passed away recently. The upshot: she has kicked off a five-day campaign to connect with voters across the parliamentary constituency and set to rope in a slew of megastars from the tinsel world to drum up support for her in the run up to Lok Sabha polls. Her late husband's fans, supporters and voters swayed by the throng of renowned actors could well dent the prospects of candidates of both JD (S)-Congress combine and the BJP.  

Sources in Congress said a couple of Congress leaders from Mandya, including Mr Sachidananda, member of KPCC, have already announced their decision to support Mrs Sumalatha and campaign for her even if she contests as an independent candidate. Besides, friends and well-wishers of the late actor are also rallying behind her and vowed to work for her victory. While  JD(S) ministers-Mr C S Puttaraju and Mr D C Thammanna dismissed any kind of sympathy wave in favour of Mrs Sumalatha, diehard fans of the late actor, Ambareesh, said it would become evident during L:ok Sabha polls.

Sources said Mrs Sumalatha's plea to contest as a Congress candidate were dashed with energy minister D K Shivakumar ruling out such a possibility on grounds that the seat was promised to alliance partner JD (S). This despite a section of Congress workers batting for her candidature in Mandya Lok Sabha constituency. Her decision to contest as an independent would certainly result in sleepless nights for leaders and candidates of JD (S)-Congress and the BJP in the run up to Lok Sabha elections.