HDK, Sumalatha hold mega rallies

Mandya: Political parties, their candidates, supporters, elected representatives, star campaigners including film personalities made their last attempt to woo the voters in the high-pitched  Mandya Lok Sabha Constituency on the last day of public campaigning which will come to an end this evening.

Mandya  has garnered the attention of media and public as Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy (HDK) is contesting against  independent candidate Sumalatha Ambarish, wife of late actor- turned-politician and former Minister M.H. Ambarish.

Both the candidates held  roads shows, rallies, door-to-door campaigning and public meetings in Mandya and surrounding places in a bid to woo voters on the last day of public campaigning today.                     

Sumalatha Ambarish and Nikhil have extensively tried to undermine each other in a bid to persuade the electorate of the Constituency as a win in this election will make way for their political journey.

HDK’s last minute efforts  

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, accompanied by a huge number of supporters, continued his road shows at various pockets of Mandya segment. The CM held the road show at Basaralu village and other places on the outskirts of Mandya. He will later conduct rallies on various streets of Mandya till this evening.

Nikhil Kumaraswamy conducted road shows at various villages of Maddur Assembly segment, the home town of late actor Ambarish where Nikhil is facing tough fight in this particular belt. He was  accompanied with Transport Minister D.C. Thammanna.

Sumalatha’s rally  : Sumalatha too held her campaigning by visiting Garment factories at Gejjalagere and Somanahalli Industrial Area and also at villages of Maddur Assembly segment including Besagarahalli.

A large number of people gave her a rousing welcome at Besagarahalli. The Congress, BJP and Raitha Sangha flags dotted the streets of this village during the rally. Supporters of Sumalatha took part by holding photos of rebel Congress leader Cheluvarayaswamy and Raitha Sangha leader late Puttannaiah.

Later, in a show of strength, she conducted the massive road show on various streets of Mandya and will hold the Swambhimani Convention at the Silver Jubilee Park in Mandya this afternoon.       

She took part in the rally, accompanied with various folk troupes after offering puja at Kalikamba Temple in the city. A huge number of supporters and fans of Sumalatha also took part in the rally.  Sandalwood actors Darshan, Yash and Ambarish’s son Abhishek Gowda also conducted the campaign in a last minute effort to woo voters for Sumalatha.

They appealed the people to elect late actor Ambarish’s wife, who is also the daughter-in- law of Mandya by a record of margin of votes to uphold the pride and self respect of the people of Mandya.          

Denies allegations

Replying to a question about the audio doing rounds in the social media about her meeting BJP leaders of the district at the private hotel, Sumalatha denied such meeting and termed the audio as fake.

She also set aside the allegations of becoming the Union Minister at NDA Government if BJP comes to power at the Centre after the Parliamentary polls. She dismissed these allegations as rumours unleashed by her political rivals to confuse and mislead the voters as well as to maligning her image.

On IT raids, Sumalatha denied to comment but alleged that JD(S) leaders were distributing money to woo the voters in order to defeat her in this election.