Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Mar 21: Mandya parliamentary constituency is going to pose a big challenge to the Congress -JD (S) alliance in general and to the Gowda family in particular. The political entry of Sumalatha Ambareesh who filed her nomination from Mandya to contest as an independent candidate has upset all the political calculations of the Gowda family. It is going to be a high pitch battle – a virtual fight between the JD (S) and the rest as local Congress leaders. Local leaders and grassroots workers have openly defied the state Congress leadership  by extending their support to Sumalatha, the widow of late Ambareesh who was popularly known as ‘Mandyada Gandu’.

When JD (S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda’s announced candidature of his two grandsons from Mandya and Hassan a few days ago,   their victory was assumed to be a foregone conclusion.   Deve Gowda even shed tears while announcing their candidature for which he faced ridicule and was trolled on social media. A section of the JD (S) and Congress workers from both the constituencies also had shown their displeasure for providing political entry to the third generation Gowda family at the cost of other senior party leaders.

If the developments of the past few days are any indication the political entry of Gowda family kin from its traditional strongholds of Mandya and Hassan will not be a pushover.   Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil who is JD(S) candidate in Mandya is facing the heat from Sumalatha Ambareesh who has managed to win the support and loyalty of even the Congress workers much to the discomfiture of the Congress-JD(S) state leadership. The BJP is also mulling not to field its candidate and support Sumalatha. Similarly, H D Revanna’s son Prajwal who is the JD (S) candidate in Hassan is also facing a stiff challenge from former minister and   Congress leader Manju who switched sides and will be contesting as a BJP candidate from here. 

The Congress rank and file is unhappy for giving away the seats to JD (S) as part of the alliance seat sharing formula. There is also objection to 29 year old Nikhil Gowda’s candidature both within the Congress and the JD(S) mainly because he has been given the seat overlooking deserving   senior politicians and that too without consulting the local leaders. Mandya and Hassan constituencies were given to the JD (S) as part of the seat sharing arrangement as it had won all the assembly segments in Mandya in the 2018 assembly elections with indirect help from Ambareesh who was miffed by the treatment given to him by the Congress.  

Sumalatha draws support

Sumalatha filed her nomination papers as an independent candidate from Mandya Lok Sabha constituency amidst much fanfare on Wednesday, March 20, 2019.  She has been able to draw support from a cross section of the society irrespective of their political affiliations. She was accompanied by Kannada actors Yash and Darshan on both side and her son Abhishek, actor Doddanna and actor-producer Rockline Venkatesh were also part of the entourage that went along with her.  Soon after filing her nomination papers, she held a massive public rally along with her which was organized under the aegis of Ambareesh Abhimani Sangha. The public rally proved to be a rallying ground for disgruntled local Congress and JD (S) party workers who waved party flags and even shouted   the slogan “Sumalatha Jai ho”. Green shawl waving members of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha were also conspicuous by their presence in the rally.   

Members of Ambareesh Abhimani Sangha had campaigned vigorously to mobilize the support of the farmers, Dalit, Advasi and minorities from the constituency and their presence in the rally clearly established that Sumalatha is serious about her candidature and nothing not even personal attacks on her integrity will stop her from fighting the elections. This show of strength   has certainly sent shockwaves in JD (S) circles    which was under the impression that the political debut of Deve Gowda’s kin would be a cakewalk. The rebellion in the local Congress has also left the Congress leadership red-faced and in a quandary, coming as it is just a day after the Congress-JD(S) alliance tried to show all is well within the alliance and wanted to send a clear message to put up a joint effort to keep the BJP away. Now the JD(S) has asked the Congress to take actions against Congress workers who defied the party to extend their support to Sumalatha. Ambareesh who was in the Congress for over two decades enjoys the support of Congress grassroots workers. However, taking action against so many congressmen identified with Sumalatha camp may not a joke and   may prove counterproductive.

Impact on Mysuru constituency

Leaving Mysuru to Congress as per seat pact had peeved local JD(S) leaders who may show their discontent by not supporting the Congress candidate in Mysuru. Congress was facing unrest after leaving Mandya and Hassan constituencies to the JD (S) where the Congress and JD (S) share bitter rivalry and Siddaramaiah   fought hard to retain Mysuru under the Congress fold.   In political circles this is viewed as a revenge act by Siddaramaiah who was defeated by a huge margin from Chamundeshwari seat in Mysuru by JD (S) candidate G T Deve Gowda. By keeping Mysuru under Congress fold Siddaramaiah wanted   to checkmate JD (S) and prevent it from increasing its sway over the constituency. However, Congress has a huge task on hand to wrest the seat from BJP MP Pratap Simha who is a formidable opponent.

This development has forced the Gowda camp to redraw its strategy to win both Mandya and Hassan constituencies to ensure smooth political debut of the Gowda kin. Minister H D Revanna’s disparaging remarks against Sumalatha accusing her of political ambition and the general reaction of the Gowda family for her desire to contest from Mandya, have not gone down well with the people of Mandya. The sandalwood film fraternity has expressed its support to Sumalatha and that has rattled the JD (S) top leadership and JD(S) MLA Narayana Gowda’s reaction is an indication of what lies ahead. Narayana Gowda had warned sandalwood actors that if they continue to support Sumalatha the state would begin a witch-hunt. His statement “we are running the government, so stay at home respectfully” is viewed as the height of arrogance and also shows the desperation in the JD (S) camp.    

Sumalatha Ambareesh’s political entry has certainly upset the political arithmetic of the JD(S) in Mandya.   Though a new entrant into politics Sumalatha has exhibited political maturity unlike her much experienced political rivals, whose misogynistic remarks elicited public rebuke.   With a huge battle on hand to ensure his sons victory Kumaraswamy will be confined to Mandya and will use every trick up his sleeve to have a smooth sail for his son. Being in government he is sure to use state machinery for the purpose.

Both the Congress and JD(S)   are aware that they have a huge challenge ahead. It remains to be seen whether Sumalatha will become a roadblock to the political career of third generation Gowda family.