Darshan begins poll campaign in favour of Sumalatha

Actor Darshan Thoogudeepa on Monday launched his poll campaign in favour of A Sumalatha, who is contesting as an Independent candidate from Mandya Lok Sabha constituency.

It has to be recalled that Darshan had come under verbal attack from JD(S) leaders, including Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, whose son K Nikhil is the JD(S) candidate in the constituency for supporting Sumalatha the wife of late actor-turned-politician Ambareesh.

After a mega rally in Mandya on March 20 when Sumalatha filed her nomination papers, Darshan along with fellow actor Yash had announced that he would resume the campaigning in favour of Sumalatha after April 1.

Darshan appealed to the people to vote for Sumalatha, recalling that Ambareesh had tendered his resignation from the Union Cabinet in 2008 to support the farmers of Mandya district, who were staging a protest for their rights on the Cauvery river waters.

To a question on the criticism by his detractors, he said, he will not respond to anybody’s comments. “They will get a reply to their comments on April 18, when the polls will be held in Mandya,” he said.

Expelled Congress leader Indavalu Sachidananda said Ambareesh brought Rs 50 crore for the rejuvenation of the KRS dam from the government. “A community hall is constructed in KRS with the funds released by Ambareesh under his Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) funds,” he said.

Darshan toured Hulikere, Belagola, Palahalli and other villages in Srirangapatna taluk.