Mandya: Asserting that she will not keep her joining BJP a secret and instead will make a public announcement if at all she was going to join the saffron party, Independent MP from Mandya Sumalatha Ambarish has lashed out at JD(S) leader Shivaramegowda for questioning her on the absence of actors Darshan and Yash, who had campaigned for her in the Lok Sabha polls.

Speaking to press persons ahead of her visit to the District BJP Office at Mandya this morning, Sumalatha said that Shivaramegowda must question the JD(S) legislators from the district on flood relief measures, crop compensation and payment of dues to sugarcane farmers.

Replying to a query on former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy’s sarcastic remarks on her alleged foreign tour, Sumalatha said that it was Kumaraswamy who went on foreign tour was at casinos.

Maintaining that she was the first to raise the plight of sugarcane farmers at a meeting called by the present Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, she dismissed the JD(S) allegation that she won because of CLP leader Siddharamaiah’s support.

Stating that several Congress leaders too supported her in the LS polls, Sumalatha said that she had expressed her gratitude to Congress workers at various platforms.

Clarifying that it was the Congress workers and not the Congress party which supported her, Sumalatha said she does not want to be dragged into the politics of JD(S) and Congress.

Sumalatha, who visited the BJP office, was greeted with bouquets by party workers. She later took part in a meeting with top BJP leaders and workers of the district.