Independent MP Sumalatha announces decision to join BJP

Mandya (Karnataka): Mandya's independent MP Sumalatha Ambareesh on Wednesday announced that she would join the BJP, thereby extending her support to the NDA candidate and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections here.

Addressing her supporters here, the 60-yearold actor-turned-politician said, "I will not leave Mandya and you will see me working for you in the coming days. I have decided to join the BJP."

She added that she will not contest the elections. Sumalatha had won the 2019 general elections with the support of BJP defeating Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil.

She said though she was an independent MP, the BJP government at the Centre gave grants to Mandya to the tune of Rs 4,000 crore. (PTI)