Actor-turned-politician Sumalatha won from the Mandya Lok Sabha constituency in 2019 as an independent but with BJP support.
Mandya MP Sumalatha Amabareesh is hopeful of getting the BJP ticket for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. (supplied)
As the political jostling in Karnataka’s Mandya constituency intensifies ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the BJP finds itself entangled in an intricate web of alliances and loyalties.
Sumalatha Ambareesh, the incumbent MP who emerged victorious as an independent candidate in the previous elections with BJP support, now seeks a BJP ticket from the Mandya Lok Sabha seat.
However, the BJP’s newfound alliance with the JD(S) complicates matters, with leaders of the regional party pressing for the Mandya seat as part of their share in the alliance.
Caught between the loyalty of an independent who once aligned with them and the demands of a new political partner, the BJP faces a critical decision that could significantly impact the electoral dynamics of the region.
Amidst all these, Sumalatha Ambareesh has exuded confidence in the BJP high command blessing her with a ticket, considering her recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi turning out to be fruitful.
On the other hand, JD(S) leaders have begun the preparations for the Lok Sabha elections by collecting opinions from the local leaders to finalise the candidate.
Even as JD(S) leaders are claiming that the BJP high command has agreed to give them the Mandya Lok Sabha seat, Mandya MP Sumalatha Ambareesh exuded confidence in the BJP high command blessing her with the ticket.
With barely two months left for the Lok Sabha polls, Sumalatha convened a meeting with her supporters and followers at Bengaluru on Sunday, 25 February.
After the meeting, she sounded confident that the BJP would give her the ticket instead of the JD(S) as a part of the seat-sharing deal in Karnataka for the Lok Sabha elections.
The Mandya MP told South First: “I met the prime minister two weeks ago, and apprised him of the party’s political status in Mandya. He responded quite positively. I also met the other party high commands including national president JP Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and national general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh regarding Lok Sabha polls.”
She added: “I am very confident that the party will give me the ticket.”
About her Sunday meeting with her supporters and followers regarding the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, she pointed out: “My supporters are anxious. They wanted me to assure them that I would not let go of Mandya despite complications and challenges.”
She added: “I have held detailed discussions with my supporters and followers. I came to politics because actor-turned-politician Ambareesh’s followers pressured me.”
Sumalatha herself was an actor, and entered active politics only after her husband Ambareesh’s demise in 2018.
“If the BJP leaves the seat to the JD(S), I will once again hold discussions with my followers and supporters. Based on their opinion, I will decide whether to contest as an independent or with a political party’s support,” she said.
“As far as the alliance is concerned, the party’s decision matters. I am looking at the BJP’s point of view. If the BJP retains the seat, it is well and good because the party is growing well and better chances lie before it in future elections,” she said.
“The BJP has gained considerable support and followers in Mandya. In 2017-18, the BJP was confined to 1,000-1,200 votes there. Now, it has shot up to over 2.5 lakh votes. The momentum has been gained and there is a need to build on this,” said the Mandya MP.
It may also be recalled that the JD(S)’s Mandya-wing leaders reportedly targeted Sumalatha when she raised concerns about illegal quarrying and mining in the district.
Admitting that she had received an offer from Congress leaders, Sumalatha asserted: “Congress leaders invited me to their party on a friendly note, but no official or serious pursuing on the matter has been witnessed from their end.”
She clarified: “They have not approached me officially to date. When the grand old party’s leaders met [me] at an event, they insisted that I join their party. But it seems there is nothing serious from their end. I have had only casual conversations with them. I have not held any official talks with the Congress on joining the party.”
On JD(S) leaders claiming that Mandya seat had been given to them by the BJP, Sumalatha said: “JD(S) MLA GT Devegowda is neither a spokesperson nor the high command to claim Mandya. They are just shooting in the air to check their strategy. There is no official confirmation yet about the seat sharing in Karnataka. I do not take his statement seriously.”
Asked whether she would be joining the BJP, she replied: “I have given a letter expressing my support to the BJP. I am part of the NDA alliance. They also consider me as a member of the BJP. When I met the prime minister, he told me he was aware of my contribution and asked me to be positive. I am confident that the BJP will bless me with a ticket. If not, further decisions will be based on the opinion of followers and supporters.”
It may be noted that the Mandya MP’s spouse Ambareesh was associated with the Congress. He also served as a minister of state in the Union Cabinet during the UPA regime and as a Cabinet minister in Siddaramaiah’s previous regime (2013 to 2018).
However, Sumalatha opted to contest as an independent candidate in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. She managed to garner the support of both the national parties – the Congress and the BJP — in the previous elections.
In a nailbiter, Sumalatha defeated the then chief minister HD Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who is currently heading the JD(S) youth wing, by a margin of 1.25 lakh votes.
Though the BJP high command has not yet made an official announcement about seat-sharing with the JD(S) in Karnataka, the regional party’s leaders have begun preparations for the Lok Sabha polls in the Mandya segment.
The JD(S)’s Karnataka chief and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy has appointed former minister Sa Ra Mahesh as the leader of the Mandya Lok Sabha seat and Hunsur MLA GD Harish Gowda as the deputy leader for the same parliamentary seat.
Under the headship of Mahesh, the party is holding meetings with local leaders to finalise the candidate for the seat.
Even JD(S) core committee chief and MLA GT Devegowda has confirmed to reporters that the BJP has agreed to give his party the Mandya seat.
GT Devegowda told reporters in Ramanagara on Sunday: “The Mandya seat has been confirmed to the JD(S). We are holding a meeting with the leaders of Mandya. We are also collecting opinions on finalising the candidate. The candidate has not yet been finalised.”
He added: “Sumalatha asking for the BJP ticket is not wrong. But she is not an official member of the BJP.”
JD(S) MLA Harish Gowda, who is also the party in-charge of the Mandya LS seat, told South First: “The party has already kick-started the preparations for the elections at Mandya. The party leaders are holding meetings at the constituency level and collecting opinions.”
He added: “As far as I know, the BJP high command has assured of providing a Mandya ticket to the JD(S). However, the final decisions regarding seat sharing are likely to be out in a week or two.”
It may be noted that the JD(S), which was in alliance with the Congress in 2019, fielded Nikhil Kumaraswamy against Sumalatha Ambareesh. Despite garnering over 5.5 lakh votes, Nikhil lost to Sumalatha.
However, the party is not planning to field Nikhil Kumaraswamy this time, considering his two consecutive defeats in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.
While Sumalatha appears confident of getting the BJP ticket for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the party’s Karnataka unit leaders claim that it is keen on giving a seat to the JD(S).
On condition of anonymity, a senior BJP leader told South First: “The party high command has made it clear that it prefers giving tickets to incumbent MPs in most segments — except Mandya and Kolar. As the party has allied with the JD(S), which is dominant in the Old Mysore region, the high command is thinking of giving the Mandya seat to the JD(S). Even the JD(S) leaders are seriously following up with this seat.”
He added: “Sumalatha Ambareesh has met the prime minister regarding the Mandya seat. The final call lies with Nadda and Shah, who are the decision-makers. The party is holding final talks about sharing seats with the JD(S). The high command is planning to provide Hassan, Mandya, and Kolar to the JD(S).”
He also confirmed that Sumalatha was yet to officially join the BJP in Karnataka.
“We had received a letter from the Mandya MP expressing her support to the BJP. She is taking part in all the party meetings and affairs. But she is not an official member of the BJP,” clarified the saffron party leader.
On condition of anonymity, the BJP MLA told South First: “It is 99 percent certain that the party’s central leadership will cede Mandya to the JD(S). The high command will take the final decision on the matter. Importantly, if Sumalatha is claiming that the BJP will bless her with the Mandya ticket, let her join the party officially instead of just expressing support via letter or oral statement.”
The BJP legislator added: “The party has conducted a survey in all segments. The high command will consider the survey reports while finalising the tickets in Karnataka.”
It may be noted that HD Kumaraswamy, while he went to pay his last respects to legendary Supreme Court advocate Fali S Nariman, also met the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and was said to have held talks over seat-sharing.
After the meeting, Kumaraswamy said that the seat shares would be finalised in a week or two.
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