Nikhil Kumaraswamy braces for tough fight as Sumalatha enters Mandya fray

BENGALURU: With the full backing of Kannada film industry and flanked by stars Darshan and Yash, actress Sumalatha Ambareesh on Monday announced she will contest from Mandya as an independent candidate, sending the JD(S) camp into a tizzy.
The JD(S) is fielding Nikhil Kumaraswamy — described by party patriarch HD Deve Gowda as ‘heir’ — from the constituency in his first outing.Her candidature, to be filed on Wednesday, could upset the Congress-JD(S) electoral math.
Sumalatha said she was in the fray for the love of the people of Mandya and not against any party or person. Nikhil welcomed her candidature and said Mandya will judge who’s fit to represent them in the Lok Sabha.
On the backfoot, CM Kumaraswamy said he doesn’t care about the actors supporting Sumalatha. “Even if the fraternity invades Mandya, I am not worried,” he added.