I'm not afraid: Karnataka CM on Sumalatha's decision to file nomination from Mandya

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Monday said he was not worried about the decision of actor Sumalatha, widow of former Congress leader M H Ambareesh, to contest from Mandya seat as an independent candidate in the coming Lok Sabha elections. Sumalatha will be contesting against Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil Gowda, an actor. "No problem... I am not afraid.. There are no film actors whom I haven't seen because I too come from the same background.

We will face it," the chief minister told reporters when asked about Sumalatha's decision to file her nomination as an independent candidate from Mandya on March 20. He also said he was not worried by her decision. Flanked by Kannada actors Yash and Darshan, Sumalatha earlier said her decision to fight the elections from Mandya would cost the Congress dear as it would be very tough for the party to make a comeback in that region.

The late actor-politician Ambareesh had represented Mandya Lok Sabha seat thrice from 1998 to 2008 and was the union minister of state for information and broadcasting during the UPA-I. On the other hand, the JD(S) had won all the eight assembly segments under Mandya Lok Sabha constituency in the 2018 May elections. Its candidate L R Shivarame Gowda had also won the bypoll to the Mandya Lok Sabha seat in November.