Mandya: It is a political ‘Jangi-Kusti’ in Mandya, the sugar bowl of India, with candidates, their godfathers and supporters indulging in a bitter war of words in their attempt to woo voters and garner maximum support.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, who held a road show at Gejjalagere on Thursday, accused independent candidate Sumalatha Ambarish of hatching a new plot to tarnish the image of coalition candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who is contesting on a JD(S) ticket.

Claiming that the opposition parties in the State have joined hands to defeat his son Nikhil, Kumaraswamy maintained that the JD(S) is not indulging in any dirty tactics against Sumalatha.

Alleging that Sumalatha has hatched a plot where her followers are asked to indulge in stone-pelting and then blame the JD(S) for the act, Kumaraswamy appealed the electorate to vote for the candidate who would be always amongst them.

The CM also asked when farmers were committing suicide across the district who helped them.

Sumalatha hits back

Reacting to Kumaraswamy’s tirade against her, actress and independent candidate Sumalatha questioned the CM on why the State Government had failed to end farmers’ distress and prevent farmers’ suicide.

Speaking to press persons after offering prayers at Nimishamba Temple, Ganjam in Srirangapatna Taluk on Thursday, Sumalatha wondered why Kumaraswamy, who is in the politics for decades could not find a solution to agrarian issues.

Asking Kumaraswamy not to play politics in the name of farmers, Sumalatha said she need not answer to the CM’s allegations that her supporters would indulge in stone-pelting for gaining sympathy as the poll date is nearing.

Stating that she has been getting warm response wherever she went for campaigning, Sumalatha alleged that the CM and JD(S) leaders were behaving in an arrogant manner and were misusing power to win the polls by hook or crook.

Sumalatha later campaigned in several villages of Srirangapatna and K.R. Pet taluks and appealed the people to give her an opportunity for serving them.

Today she continued electioneering at K.R. Pet taluk.