Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023: Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambareesh extends 'full support' to BJP

Actor-turned-politician and Mandya Lok Sabha MP Sumalatha Ambareesh has declared full support to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections 2023.

The actor-turned-politician, who remained a neutral MP till now, also said the decision was taken in view of the stability given to India and the reputation earned by the country across the globe.

Sumalatha, who represents Mandya constituency in the Lok Sabha, also promised that so long as she is in politics, her son Abhishek will never venture into politics, for she was against dynastic politics.

"After consulting my well-wishers and supporters, I have arrived at a decision. On this day, I am extending my full support to the Narendra Modi government at the Centre," Sumalatha, wife of iconic Kannada actor late Ambareesh said at a press conference here. She said after four years as an independent MP and facing numerous challenges, especially obstacles in holding public meetings, she realised that she needed support.

"People can draw their conclusions but I have faith in the leadership of Narendra Modi, who is admired across the globe," Sumalatha said. She also said it is an honour for Mandya that the Prime Minister of the country was visiting the district to inaugurate the expressway. "The Prime Minister could have chosen to inaugurate it either in Mysuru or Bengaluru but he opted for Mandya, which shows the importance of the district," the MP said.

The MP clarified that the move is aimed at the overall development of Mandya, which according to her, is suffering from a vitiated atmosphere.

In an apparent attack on the JD(S), Sumalatha slammed those "who have turned Mandya into their political citadel and did nothing for the district." "There is a need for change in Mandya. A vitiated atmosphere has been created here. Let's carry out a 'Swachch Bharat Mission' here in Mandya first," Sumalatha said.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had earlier said that discussions were held with Sumalatha to induct her into BJP and that the process was underway. She maintained that her decision was taken keeping the development of Mandya district in mind.

In 2019 assembly election, Sumalatha had won by 1,25,876 votes in Mandya Lok Sabha constituency, that saw a bitterly contested campaign. She defeated the then chief minister H D Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Kumaraswamy of the JD(S).

The fight for the Mandya Lok Sabha seat had catapulted to national limelight, with the contest projected as a cliffhanger between former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda's grandson Nikhil, an actor and the candidate of Congress-JD(S) combine, and Sumalatha Ambareesh, who stood as an Independent candidate backed by the BJP.

Sumalatha had initially sought a ticket from Congress, the party from which her late husband had represented Mandya in the past, but it was denied citing coalition compulsions as it had to cede the constituency to JD(S), as per the seat-sharing arrangement. Congress and JD(S) were in alliance then and there was a coalition government in Karnataka.

She later declared her candidature as an Independent, but the move irked Kumaraswamy and the JD(S) leadership, who were once close to Ambareesh, as they gauged that she might be a threat for them in their own backyard.

All was not well between the alliance partners, as several Congress leaders and workers, miffed over their party's decision to cede the seat to JD(S), did not campaign for Nikhil, upset over certain comments by Kumaraswamy allegedly against them.

Many party leaders and workers had extended support to Sumalatha and had campaigned for her openly with the Congress flag.

Mandya district is a JD(S) bastion and the party won all the seven assembly seats in 2018 polls. Congress, its arch-rival, is considerably strong here, while the BJP is weak.

BJP, which is trying to make inroads into the district, had managed to win K R Pet assembly seat in the 2019 bypolls, as MLA Narayana Gowda defected from JD(S) and joined the saffron party. He is now a minister in the Basavaraj Bommai government.

Aiming to win maximum number of seats in Old Mysuru region that includes Mandya to gain absolute majority in the assembly, the BJP has been making efforts to woo Sumalatha into the party. Some of its leaders and ministers have openly invited her to the party and have indicated that talks are going on with her.