Bengaluru: Wife of late actor-turned-politician, Sumalatha Ambareesh yesterday met senior BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minster S M Krishna and sought his support.
She is likely to contest as an independent from Mandya in the coming Lok Sabha polls. The BJP leader Krishna, is a prominent Vokkaliga leader from Mandya said he would discuss with the party leadership on supporting her in the polls. On her part, Sumalatha said she would reveal her decision on contesting the polls and her plan of action by 18 March.
Speaking to reporters he said, “Sumalatha informed me about contesting the polls from Mandya. I will also speak to the BJP leadership.
BJP would take a decision by March 18 on whether to field a candidate from Mandya or support Sumalatha by not fielding a candidate. Conceding that there is a demand within the BJP to field a candidate from Mandya, he said.
Clamour is growing within the BJP to induct her into the party and field her as the candidate. A section within the BJP believe that if Sumalatha joins the party and is fielded as a candidate in Mandya, it would help the saffron party, which doesn’t have much presence in the Vokkaliga bastion.
Speaking to reporters, Sumalatha said she had come to seek his blessings and updated him about the current situation in Mandya. Stating that she has not met any BJP leaders, the actress said she planned to meet all senior leaders and seek their blessings. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy is the coalition candidate from Mandya.