Several BJP leaders were present in SM Krishna's residence, including Mandya independent MP Sumalatha
Bengaluru: Multilingual actress and Mandya independent MP Sumalatha Ambareesh, who defeated Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil, on Sunday (May 26) thanked the state BJP for their support and said she will would consider supporting the BJP after consulting Mandya voters.
Sumalatha met Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa and another senior party leaders and former state chief minister SM Krishna and thanked them for their support for her victory in Mandya.
Former deputy chief minister R Ashoka was also present at the senior BJP leader Krishna’s residence.
In the 17th Lok Sabha election, the BJP had supported Sumalatha by not fielding any candidate against her in Mandya.
"I want to clarify one thing that if an independent candidate wins, there is no provision in our constitution for him or her to join a party, but can support. There is a provision to give issue-based support, and this is what I have got to know," she told reporters in response to a question about her joining the BJP.
Mandya's MP-elect Sumalatha further said, "I have been saying that the opinion of people is important to me. I have plans to go to every taluk in Mandya to thank voters during which I will consult my supporters and followers on what steps I have to take in the interest of Mandya. After taking their opinion, I will decide on this."
Thanking the BJP for its support for her victory, Sumalatha congratulated the saffron party for its win both nationally and in Karnataka, by terming the landslide win as "tsunami".
Pointing out that her win was "historic", she credited the people of Mandya and supporters from across the party for it.
In an embarrassment to Kumaraswamy, his son Nikhil was defeated by Sumalatha by 1,25,876 votes in Mandya in a bitterly contested campaign.
Sumalatha (55) is the wife of popular actor-turned-politician late MH Ambareesh.
She had initially sought a ticket from the Congress, the party from which her husband had represented Mandya in the past, but it was denied citing coalition compulsions as it had to cede the constituency to JD(S), as per the seat sharing arrangement.
Several Congress leaders and workers were miffed over their party's decision to cede the seat to JD(S) and did not campaign for Nikhil, upset over certain comments by Kumaraswamy allegedly against them.
Congratulating Sumalatha for her victory in Mandya, Yeddyurappa said she would decide on her association with the BJP after consulting her supporters and voters.
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