Mandya: With a little more than a fortnight left for Mandya, the sugar bowl of Karnataka, to go for the all-important Lok Sabha poll, on Monday, Darshan, a prominent Sandalwood star and a die-hard supporter of Sumalatha Ambareesh, the widow of actor-turned-politician Ambareesh began canvassing.

Touring as many as 20 villages in the district, Darshan pleaded with the citizens to vote for Sumalatha. Refraining from taking any jibes at Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy or his son Nikhil, Darshan chose to keep it simple. But the message was stern as he urged the people to vote for that candidate who would be able to solve their problems and improve their lives.

There is a lot of confusion relating to the electronic voting machines (EVMs) to be used in Mandya as Sumalatha is contesting against several of her namesakes. Therefore, Darshan sought to inform the citizens that her serial number is 20 on the EVM, and not to get confused.

On the other hand, while Darshan was busy campaigning, LR Shivarame Gowda, the incumbent JD(S) MP from Mandya, took a jibe at Sumalatha saying she belongs to the ‘Naidu’ caste and she doesn’t deserve a vote in the Vokkaliga-dominated Mandya.

However, Sumalatha laughed off the statement, saying Shivarame Gowda’s words carry no meaning as he doesn’t have a good reputation in the party itself.

She was in Dharmasthala, meeting the Dharmadhikari (trustee) of Dharmasthala Veerendra Heggade.

On the issue of Nikhil’s nomination, Sumalatha added that she would consult her lawyers before knocking on the doors of the high court.

Meanwhile, Nikhil too was seen busy campaigning on the streets of Mandya. His father and grandfather were busy attending havans in Tumakuru, where HD Deve Gowda will be testing his luck.

Also, reports trickled in that a person by name BS Gowda, a Mandya citizen has filed a complaint with the election commission, seeking invalidation of Nikhil’s candidacy as there is a variation in his name on the nomination paper and the Voter ID. The election commission is yet to react on the issue.