Still hoping for Congress ticket, Sumalatha keeps BJP option open

MYSURU/MANDYA/ HUBBALLI: Actor Sumalatha on Thursday kept the option of joining the BJP open in her bid to contest Lok Sabha polls from Mandya constituency, but insisted that it will depend on the feedback she gets from fans of her late husband and former minister MH Ambareesh.

This was after JD(S) minister D C Thammanna, who is related to former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, said she never bothered to offer a glass of water to people from Mandya when they visited Ambareesh’s house in Bengaluru.

Taking exception to the remark, Sumalatha hit back saying the minister knows well how he and his family members were treated when they frequently visited her house. “Thammanna, who frequently visited our house, stopped talking to me after the demise of my husband. It shows what an opportunistic person he is,” a tearyeyed Sumalatha said.

The actor continued to seek Congress leaders’ support and sought to tap into discontent brewing among Congress leaders from Mandya, who are unhappy with the party’s decision to ally with the JD(S) and concede the segment to the rival party.

“BJP leaders have not contacted me,” she said, when asked if she would join the BJP as the Congress has virtually ruled out granting her the ticket. “But I’ll ask people what they think about it. Let them decide.”

The actor, who is touring Mandya constituency for two weeks now, said she is not keen on contesting from any other seat nor is she interested in any post. “I’m clear on what I want. I’m so fearless that I’m speaking about it openly,” she said.

She said she is seeking to use the goodwill earned by her late husband and is keen to tap into it. She is also keen on getting the support of local Congress leaders, traditional rivals of the JD(S) in the segment.

“Many local Congress leaders told me that it is hard for them to seek votes for the JD(S) candidate, she said. “They are saying how can we go back to voters in the next election and ask them to support Congress?”