With the Congress maintaining that it is not in a position to field actor Sumalatha Ambareesh from Mandya, the latter, left little wriggle room, is likely to enter the fray as an Independent candidate from the JD(S) bastion.

But Sumalatha, who is playing hardball, is yet to officially announce her decision to this effect. Even as she continues to claim that she’s still an aspirant of the Congress ticket, her supporters, however, have begun to erect flexes and banners in many parts of the district, declaring her as an ‘Independent candidate’.

Sumalatha herself was witness to many such flexes across Tadagavadi, a village she visited on Wednesday seeking votes. The flexes have been erected by the ‘Darshan-Ambareesh Abhimanigala Sangha’.

“I am yet to hear anything officially from the Congress. I will announce my decision only after that,” she said, while traversing across the alleys of Bevinahalli, Tadagavadi and villages of Srirangapatna.

This despite Congress leaders, including D K Shivakumar, Dinesh Gundu Rao and Siddaramaiah, having made it clear that the party was in no position to field her from Mandya. They have said that the question does not arise as the party had decided not to cede the seat to the JD(S).

Sumalatha, who launched her election campaign on March 2, has managed to cover most parts of the district in the last four days. On Thursday, she will complete her first round of campaigning. Though the JD(S) workers have started a negative campaign against her, she has remained resolute in her decision, hoping that the sympathy factor will ruin the prospects of her opponent.

Leaders bat for Sumalatha

Meanwhile, Sumalatha has received a shot in the arm. A few local leaders have expressed their support to the actor. 

KPCC member and Ambareesh’s close confidante Sachchidananda said, "It is impossible to control the party workers in the name of alliance. We will support Sumalatha and work for her victory, even if the high command issues notice or suspends us."

Former MLA and Congress leader Ramesh Bandisiddegowda has openly asked his supporters to campaign for Sumalatha in the upcoming elections.

JD(S) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy and son of Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, whose candidacy was recently announced by the party leadership, is yet to officially kickstart his campaign.

BJP to wait & watch

Meanwhile, the BJP, which was exploring the option of fielding Sumalatha from Mandya, has decided to adopt the wait and watch policy for the moment. The party is likely to extend outside support to her once she announces her decision to contest as an Independent candidate.