Will Sumalatha join BJP ahead of 2024 LS polls?

By Shyam Sundar Vattam| NT

Bengaluru: Is Mandya Lok Sabha member Sumalatha Ambareesh set to join the BJP? Reports to this effect are making the rounds in the sugar bowl of Karnataka in the last 15 days after she hinted at joining either of the national parties before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

There are even reports that Sumalatha has decided to join the BJP in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Mandya next month. It is also said that the BJP has promised the Maddur ticket to her son Abhishek Ambareesh in the 2023 Assembly polls. Former minister late M.H. Ambareesh was born at Doddarisanakere which falls in Maddur and voters have a lot of love for the late actor.

Sources close to the MP told News Trail that she has been approached by BJP leaders to join the party but has not made up her mind with two years left for the parliament polls. Another reason is that Mandya has always been a fortress of the Congress or Janata Dal (Secular) and has never voted for the BJP. “She is considering the pros and cons before taking a decision,’’ sources said.

These sources said she is consulting leaders of every village in the constituency to seek their opinion. Her joining the BJP would be a major boost for the saffron party as it can gain a foothold in the Vokkaliga belt. Secondly, using her influence in the district, the BJP can hope to win a few assembly seats too. On the other hand if she joins the Congress, there are some leaders who might oppose her as she would hog the limelight. Her stand on illegal stone quarrying has not been taken kindly to by many.