Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jan 26: Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumar has said that he is “mentally prepared” to enter the political fray, incase his party needs him to.

The actor who is unsure about his candidature from the Mandya Lok Sabha segment, has opined that JD(S) should not give up Mandya seat to its coalition partner as Mandya is JD(S) strongest belt.

“Congress should not vie for the seat at all as JD(S) has won all seven assembly seats in Mandya,” Nikhil said.

Agreeing there is a rivalry between Congress and JD(S) in Mandya, Nikhil says he does not blame Congress party’s insistence to fight from Mandya. However, as now JD(S) and Congress are coalition partners, the equations have changed, he says.

It is said that local Congress is keen that Sumalatha, wife of late actor and politician M H Ambareesh or their son Abhishek contests from Mandya. However, Nikhil who is a good friend of Abhishek said that he knows Abhi closely. “Though he is under pressure to contest elections, he is more interested to focus on movies,” he said.

Meanwhile, speaking about himself, Nikhil says that he is ready to plunge into politics but has not got a green signal from his father.

Nikhil also said that he will be happy if H D Deve Gowda contests from Mandya. “As Prajwal Revanna is contesting from Hassan, my grandfather may have to contest from Mandya. I am not desperate or in a hurry and will be very happy if my grandfather has a safe win,” he says.

Meanwhile, Sumalatha Ambareesh has not given confirmation with regard to her candidature for the seat from Congress. “My family shares a deep emotional connect with Mandya, and I cannot give them a rude ‘No’ for an answer. I have asked the leaders some time to announce my decision. However, Abhishek will be focusing in films for now,” she said.

Former MLA and Congress leader N Cheluvarayaswamy reacted that people of Mandya want Ambareesh’s kin to contest and JD(S) should follow their wish.