Actress Sumalatha, wife of late Congress leader Ambareesh, announced today that she will contest the Lok Sabha elections as an independent from Mandya constituency in Karnataka.
In a press conference Sumalatha said: “Everybody I have met in Mandya has told me the faith they had in him (Ambareesh), they will transfer that to me. That way we can keep memory of him alive.
She added she is taking this step to continue the legacy of her late husband Ambareesh. “The decision I have taken if it hurts anyone,I apologise,” Sumalatha said.
Sumalatha’s aspiration to contest the Lok Sabha election from Mandya seat had earlier created a big political confusion in the state. She wanted to contest the elections in Congress ticket.
However, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy fielded his son in Mandya. Since Kumaraswamy’s JDS and Congress are alliance partners in the state, the likelihood of Sumalatha getting a Congress ticket in Mandya was very less.
This led to a big political crisis in the state. Ambareesh’s fans came to support Sumalatha’s candidacy in Mandya. This had upset the workers of JDS and open fight in social media ensued between JDS workers and Ambareesh fans.
The fight took an ugly turn when Karnataka minister HD Revanna made a sexist comment on her. He slammed Sumalatha’s decision to enter politics just months after her husband Ambareesh’s death. The remarks created a huge controversy with many people coming forward to criticize Revanna.
