Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka: Mandya comes to a standstill

MANDYA: The

high-voltage campaign in Vokkaliga heartland

of Mandya ended on Tuesday with

former actor and independent Sumalatha Ambareesh

accusing chief minister HD Kumaraswamy of trying to score political points by getting her husband Ambareesh’s mortal remains to Mandya.


However, the CM refuted the charge and said she’s misleading the public. Sumalatha’s rally led to disruption of vehicular traffic in the city and choked the Mysuru-Bengaluru highway. But travelers were spared the agony as Kumaraswamy chose to end his roadshow at Keregodu on the outskirts of Mandya and left the segment at 6pm, the deadline for campaigning.

The campaign reached its crescendo with Sumalatha and JD(S) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy holding roadshows. Ending with a rally at Silver Jubilee Park, Sumalatha, 55, harped on the ‘Mandya Pride’ sentiment and asked voters not to be fooled by former PM HD Deve Gowda and his family. Actors Darshan and Yash were also present. She broke down while addressing supporters accusing Kumaraswamy of hurting her by raking up her husband’s death.

Meanwhile, Kumaraswamy held roadshows in Mandya, Basaralu and Keragodu with party workers holding a bike rally along with him. He urged people to vote for son Nikhil as he would work for development of Mandya district. “Defeat my opponent’s nefarious designs to topple my government by standing with Nikhil,” he said.

At Keragodu, Kumaraswamy refuted Sumalatha’s charges: “I will not stoop to such level.”