BENGALURU: Actor Sumalatha Ambareesh ended weeks of anticipation and uncertainty by declaring here on Monday that she would contest the Lok Sabha elections as an independent from Mandya.The announcement by the wife of “rebel star” MH Ambareesh, who passed away on November 24, effectively meant that the segment will not be a walkover for chief minister HD Kumaraswamy’s son, JD(S)-Congress coalition candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy. Flanked by Sandalwood superstars Yash and Darshan — a sign that she has the unequivocal backing of the film fraternity — Sumalatha said, “I am not contesting elections for myself or my son. I am going to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as an independent candidate from Mandya for the people of the district and for the fans of Ambareesh.”Recalling the day of Ambareesh’s demise as the hardest day of her life, Sumalatha said it was the people of Mandya who brought her out of a dark place. “It is for these people of Mandya who showed me and (son) Abhishek affection and love that I am going to contest the elections,” she said.She said the Congress had offered her the post of MLC. Party leaders even suggested that she contest the election from Bengaluru North or Bengaluru South, Sumalatha said, but she but had made it clear that it would be Mandya or not at all for her.The self-claimed novice in politics said she expected the disgruntled rank and file in the Mandya Congress to support her candidature.“Thousands of Mandya Congress workers have assured me of their support, considering they are facing an identity crisis. It is the question of their existence,” she said. Sumalatha said she would file her nomination from Mandya on March 20.The catalyst for her decision was the JD(S) boycott of a shradhanjali programme for her late husband in Mandya. “They decided to boycott the event and showed that politics was the reason behind it. They wanted to shut me and my family out,” she said.On the BJP decision to possibly back her instead of fielding its own candidate, she said she expected the support and ticket from only one party — the Congress.Sumalatha said the fight is going to see a united front from the film fraternity, with Sandalwood, stars Yash, Darshan and Sudeep along with producer Rockline Venkatesh pledging their support.“I am sure they are going to bless me,” she said.Reacting to Sumalatha’s decision to enter electoral politics, JD(S) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy said he welcomed her candidature. “Eventually, the people of Mandya will decide who is best suited to represent them,” he said.

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