What is Sumalatha’s contribution to Mandya, asks Kumaraswamy

TNN

February 5, 2019

Bengaluru, Feb 5: The Mandya Lok Sabha seat has become the centre of a tug-of-war between allies JD(S) and Congress, with strong opposition growing to the candidature of Sumalatha, widow of former minister and actor MH Ambareesh, from JD(S) workers.

While chief minister HD Kumaraswamy questioned Sumalatha’s contribution to the Mandya Lok Sabha seat, once represented by Ambareesh, JD(S) MLC KT Srikantegowda said Sumalatha was from Andhra Pradesh and not a “Mandya Gowdti (local Vokkaliga)”.

In the Congress camp, while minister Satish Jarkiholi said candidature for the seat will be decided by the JD(S) and his party will not contest there, KPCC president Dinesh Gundurao maintained he would welcome her entry into politics.

Replying to a query during a pre-budget interaction with senior journalists in Bengaluru on Monday on his “defeatist and emotional” statements on leading a coalition government, Kumaraswamy brought up the Sumalatha issue. The CM justified his behavior by saying tragic heroes sell in politics.

“By making those statements, I get people’s sympathy,” Kumaraswamy candidly admitted. In the same breath, the CM, who had initially declined to comment on the tussle between the JD(S) and Sumalatha, asked: “What is Sumalatha’s contribution to the constituency?” Kumaraswamy said there was sympathy for Sumalatha, which was the reason for her getting publicity. “People accept all this,” he said. The CM claimed Sumalatha, who was an actor herself, had done nothing for Mandya when Ambareesh was alive, nor has she done anything now.

Meanwhile, Srikantegowda faced an angry backlash from fans of Ambareesh after making unsavoury comments against her. Asked to comment on the party considering Sumalatha’s candidature for the seat, he said: “She is from Andhra Pradesh and not a Mandya Gowdti. We have already seen how Ramya [former MP and actor] betrayed the people of Mandya by always remaining elusive during her stint as MP. Ambareesh himself refused to contest last time because he knew he would be defeated. The people of Mandya have suffered enough by callous politicians like Ramya and Ambareesh. Mandya voters should not support politicians who do not take public life seriously.”

Soon after his comments were telecast by news channels, Ambareesh fans took to social media to lambast the JD(S) leader. Some even issued threats. A senior police officer said police protection will be provided to Srikantegowda.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Siddaramaiah, who unsuccessfully contested the Mandya byelection, said if Sumalatha wants to contest as a BJP candidate, she will have to work as a common party worker in Mandya district and only then be eligible for a ticket.

Nothing wrong in Nikhil entering politics

Kumaraswamy said too much should not be read into his actor-son Nikhil’s possible entry into politics. “A doctor’s son becomes a doctor, a bureaucrat’s son pursues civil services, a lawyer’s offspring also follows his father’s profession. So what’s wrong in a politician’s son entering politics, even if it is the third generation?” he asked.

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DK-Udupi local authorities' constituency by-poll: 4 candidates – Cong, BJP, SDPI, Ind – in fray

News Network

October 8,2024

Mangaluru: The by-election to the legislative council from the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi local authorities' constituency will be a contest among four candidates. An independent candidate, Muhammed Riyaz, has withdrawn his nomination on Monday, the last day for withdrawal.

Deputy commissioner Mullai Muhilan MP stated that candidates Kishore BR (BJP), Raju Poojary (Congress), Anwar Sadat S (SDPI), and Dinakar Ullal (independent) will be in the fray.

Polling will be held at 392 booths in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts between 8am and 4pm on Oct 21.

A total of 6,032 voters from Dakshina Kannada and Udupi are eligible to vote. While there will be 234 polling booths in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi will have 158 stations. Gram panchayat members, corporators of the Mangaluru City Corporation, members of city municipal councils, town municipal councils, town panchayats, MLAs, MLCs, and Lok Sabha members are eligible to vote.

Election observer of the Election Commission of India (ECI), Pankaj Kumar Pandey, reviewed the poll preparations at the deputy commissioner's office on Monday. He issued directions to officials regarding arrangements to be made during the election and counting of votes.

The deputy commissioner stated that out of 6,032 voters, 3,127 are women and 2,905 are men. He said the counting of votes will be held at St Aloysius PU College in the city on Oct 24.

Udupi deputy commissioner Vidya Kumari K, city police commissioner Anupam Agrawal, Dakshina Kannada ZP CEO Anandh K, Dakshina Kannada SP Yathish N, Udupi SP Arun K, and additional deputy commissioners Santhosh Kumar G and Mamatha Devi were present.

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JD(S) leader G T Devegowda backs CM Siddaramaiah in MUDA row, taunts HDK

News Network

October 4,2024

Mysuru: Chairman of JD(S) core committee and Chamundeshwari constituency MLA G T Devegowda on Thursday expressed his solidarity with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah saying the latter need not resign, while lambasting leaders of his own party and alliance partner BJP, including Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy.

In his speech during Mysuru Dasara inauguration he said that if persons against whom FIR is registered have to resign, many leaders from all the three parties, including Opposition Leader R Ashoka, will have to resign.

“All are sitting in glass houses... Since I know Siddaramaiah well, I am talking about him. At a time when mines and real estate are ruling politics, Siddaramaiah has survived in politics. He has never done any favour,” Devegowda said.

He added, “Allegations against Siddaramaiah are unexpected and accidental. If the Governor and Chief Justice order an investigation, it does not mean that he should resign."

He continued, asking, "Have they told Siddaramaiah to resign or have they asked to imprison him? When a person becomes a Central minister, he or she should realise their dignity and responsibility. Instead of recognising the good work done by Siddaramaiah, they ask him to resign. Will Kumarswamy (facing an FIR) resign? Should Siddaramaiah, who has become CM with a support of 135 MLAs, resign?"

"Opposition leaders are not remembering the good work of earlier CMs Kengal Hanumanthaiah, Veerendra Patil, Ramakrishna Hegde, H D Deve Gowda or S M Krishna. Karnataka is a model state. It is a bad trend to topple an elected government which is doing good work,” he further said.

Devegowda added, “Siddaramaiah is Goddess Chamundeshwari’s ‘Varaputra’ and hence has her blessings during tough times. He won the election in Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency, when the BJP-JD(S) government was in power in 2006. With the blessings of the Goddess, he has held varied positions right from becoming an MLA for the first time in 1983. He presented 15 budgets and has become CM for a second time. He took H C Mahadevappa, a Dalit leader to the state level. Siddaramaiah has the support of Deputy CM D K Shivakumar as ‘Jodeththu’. Blessings of the beneficiaries of guarantee schemes are with him (Siddaramaiah).”

Siddaramaiah said, “Devegowda was a MUDA member. He knows the truth. Hence, he is saying this. His words have filled strength in me. ‘Satyameva Jayate’, Truth will always triumph.”

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