Congress leader and ‘rebel’ star M H Ambareesh on Tuesday announced his retirement from electoral politics, ending the suspense on his contesting the May 12 assembly polls.
“I am growing old. I don’t want to contest the elections. Let the party field anybody from Mandya constituency,” the 66-year old leader told reporters. The Congress had given him the ticket to contest from Mandya. But he had not collected the 'B' form from the party.
He said he cannot campaign in the election because of ill health. “I cannot do justice to people of the constituency even if I am elected. Hence, the decision to retire from the electoral politics,” he stated.
The Congress leader took exception to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah contesting from two constituencies, saying that it sends out a wrong message. “He (Siddaramaiah) had been saying that he will contest from Chamundeshwari. And he should have stuck to his stand. Losing and winning are common in politics. A leader has to fight,” he added.