Mandya (Karnataka): Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has announced that discussions are underway to induct Mandya MP Sumalatha into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). According to reports, Sumalatha is expected to join the BJP at a press meet in Mandya on Friday.
The MP’s induction could provide a significant boost to the BJP in Mandya district, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hold a rally on March 12.
Sources suggest that Sumalatha may contest the upcoming assembly elections from one of the constituencies in Mandya, with Maddur being the likely constituency as it was represented by her late husband and actor Ambareesh.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Sumalatha contested as an independent candidate and was supported by the BJP. She won the election by a margin of over one lakh votes against Nikhil Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal (Secular) party. Nikhil was the consensus candidate from the Congress and JD(S) alliance.
BJP general secretary CT Ravi responded to queries from the media by asking them to wait for 24 hours, adding that he could neither confirm nor deny Sumalatha’s inclusion in the party.
The induction of Sumalatha into the BJP could be a significant development in the lead-up to the assembly elections in Karnataka. Her joining the party could also help the BJP in further consolidating its support in the Mandya district, where it has been trying to make inroads.
The public and political analysts are eagerly waiting for the press meeting on Friday to see if Sumalatha officially joins the BJP.