Nagamangala Taluk Congress vows to campaign for Sumalatha Ambarish Nagamangala, Apr.5 – Even as the Congress high command has warned of disciplinary action against those Congress leaders and workers who campaign for actress Sumalatha Ambarish, who is contesting as an independent candidate from Mandya LS seat, the Nagamangala Block Congress has vowed to campaign for Sumalatha by holding Congress party flags.

Addressing a press meet here on Wednesday, Nagamangala Block Congress President H.T. Krishnegowda maintained that they would not follow the party’s diktat on following coalition dharma.

Pointing out that the Congress’ existence in Nagamangala was more important than following coalition dharma, he said that the party workers were supporting Sumalatha as a matter of self pride.

He asked the KPCC to understand the feelings of Congress leaders here. Claiming that Congress workers had supported JD(S) candidate L.R. Shivaramegowda in the bypolls for Mandya LS seat held in November last, he reiterated that there was no question of supporting JD(S) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy.

Accusing Shivaramegowda of ignoring Congress workers after his win, Krishnegowda lashed out at the JD(S) MP for making crass remarks against Sumalatha and also for raising caste issues in the run up to the polls.

He also expressed hope that Vokkaliga community will support Sumalatha in the LS polls.

KPCC President warns of action: Meanwhile, KPCC President Dinesh Gundu Rao has warned defiant Nagamangala Congress leaders of disciplinary action if they do not toe the party line and campaign for coalition candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy.

Speaking to press persons at Bengaluru on Wednesday, Dinesh Gundu Rao said that party workers have to follow the instructions of AICC President Rahul Gandhi or otherwise the party will throw them out.

Warning the Congress workers against using the party flags during poll campaign for independent candidate Sumalatha, Dinesh said the party would complain to the Election Commission against waving party flags in the independent candidate’s poll campaign.

Puttaraju says there will be no Cong. flags in Sumalatha’s campaign: With the Congress high command warning its party workers against using party flags in Sumalatha’s poll campaign, Mandya District Minister C.S. Puttaraju of the JD(S) has maintained that there would be no Congress flags in Sumalatha’s campaign from now on.

Speaking to press persons at coalition candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy’s poll campaign at H. Malligere in Mandya taluk on Wednesday, he said that the JD(S) has already brought the issue to the notice of the Congress and the Congress high command has warned of disciplinary action.

Maintaining that the poll campaign in Mandya would involve all Congress leaders, Puttaraju said that the Congress was talking to its rebel leaders and issues would be sorted out soon. He further said that nothing was a closed chapter in politics.