Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambareesh, who was confident of getting the BJP ticket to contest the Lok Sabha election, will be holding a meeting with her supporters and leaders of the Mandya region at her residence in JP Nagar, Bengaluru today, to discuss the future course of action.
Former Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy is contesting the election from the seat.
The BJP has offered this seat to its alliance partner JD(S) as part of a seat-sharing deal.
Sumalatha, who was elected as an independent candidate in the previous election, had extended her support to the BJP a few months ago and was confident of getting the BJP ticket. As part of her effort to secure the party ticket, she lobbied in New Delhi, but ultimately, the BJP offered this seat to Mandya.
Will Sumalatha extend her support to JD(S) candidate HD Kumaraswamy, or will she run as an independent candidate once again, or will she officially join the BJP? The decision is likely to emerge after today’s meeting.
State BJP chief BY Vijayendra tried to persuade the MP and asked her to support the alliance candidate, Kumaraswamy.
Speaking to reporters, Vijayendra said that it was his duty as the party state president to meet the MP, “We discussed lots of issues,” he said. Reacting to the meeting with Vijayendra, Sumalatha said her preference is her supporters and made it clear that she won’t take any decision without taking her supporters into confidence.
The MP announced that she would announce her final decision in Mandya as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy, who had a strained relationship with Sumalatha, has softened his stance and said he would meet and deliberate with her. She also welcomed Kumaraswamy’s gesture. She declined to comment on whether she would campaign for Kumaraswamy.
