What’s Simha doing in my terrain: Sumalatha

Shyam Sundar Vattam| NT
Mysuru

Frustrated over the repeated interference of Mysuru- Kodagu MP Pratap Simha in the affairs of Mandya Lok Sabha constituency, sitting independent MP Sumalatha Ambareesh is learnt to have brought this to the notice of the BJP high command.

Of late, Simha had been meddling in the affairs of Mandya by overseeing the progress of the Bengaluru-Mysuru Express Corridor Project, meeting victims of flood-hit areas in Mandya city and also interacting with voters.

An irked Sumalatha had told the Mysuru- Kodagu MP to keep off Mandya and asked him to focus on his constituency. Despite this, Simha visited Mandya on Saturday and held a press conference to explain the progress of the Express corridor project which will run through Mandya for a long distance. Sources close to Sumalatha told News Trail that she wants the BJP top brass to restrict Simha to Mysuru- Kodagu districts as people of Mandya have elected her as their representative in the Lok Sabha.

Simha has strained his ties with MLAs in his constituency on several issues. The spat in public between Simha and Krishna Raja constituency MLA S.A.Ramdas during the briefing on International Day of Yoga goes to prove that all is not well in the saffron party.

The BJP is sparing no effort to get Sumalatha into the saffron fold which will help it make inroads in the Vokkaliga dominated Mandya district with the help of her late husband Ambareesh’s influence. Her presentation of the problems of Mandya district has impressed BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narerdra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The party has already sent feelers and has held one round of talks with her. But she has sought time to consult her well-wishers and noted personalities of the constituency before making her decision public. Sumalatha had raised the issue of illegal stone quarrying in Mandya district which may pose a threat to the Krishna Raja Sagar reservoir in Srirangapatna taluk which has been appreciated by people. But she has also antagonized local JD(S) leaders who claim she is not present in the constituency to address the problems of people.

Recently, PM Modi had requested her to attend a public meeting held in Mysuru where he had an interaction with the beneficiaries of various central government schemes. After the meeting, Modi spoke to her briefly before proceeding to another function.

Sumalatha has already brought Simha’s interference to the notice of State BJP President Nalinkumar Kateel. Besides, she has brought this up with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai too at a recent meeting in Bengaluru.

The frequent visits of Simha to Mandya has given rise to a feeling that he is planning to contest from Mandya in the next polls. He may even contest on the ticket of another party if Sumalatha joins the BJP and the high command gives the Mysuru-Kodagu LS ticket to someone else due to the lack of unanimity about his candidature among local MLAs.

Sources say Simha, a Vokkaliga may not hesitate to join the JD(S) and contest against Sumalatha by claiming credit for implementing the Bengaluru- Mysuru expressway.