The former Union Minister and actor M.H. Ambareesh on Sunday declared before a television reporter that he would not contest from Mandya Assembly constituency for which the Congress has approved his candidature, in protest against the choice of Ravindra Srikantaiah for Srirangapatna constituency ignoring his nominee Putte Gowda, a lawyer.
In an interview to a TV channel, Mr. Ambareesh said that Mr. Ravindra had worked against him in the 2008 elections and he would not file his nomination papers on Monday till the high command changes its decision to field Mr. Ravindra.
Mr. Gowda is a former president of Srirangapatna Block Congress Committee, while Mr. Ravindra, son of former MLA Parvatamma Srikantaiah, had sought ticket in 2008.
The Congress had also ignored the claim of former minister and Mandya District Congress Committee President M.S. Atmananda, who was also associated with the Cauvery agitation led by the former MP G. Made Gowda for Mandya while giving ticket to Mr. Ambareesh.
Candidate keeps off campaign
Staff Correspondent reports from Mandya:
The Congress in Mandya has received a jolt on Sunday with L.D. Ravi, Congress candidate for Melkote Assembly constituency, announcing that he would abstain from the campaign activities.
Sources in the party said that Mr. Ravi took the decision soon after Mr. Ambareesh announced his decision not to contest from Mandya. Soon after Mr. Ambareesh’s decision was flashed in the electronic media, Mr. Ravi, who was campaigning in Dudda hobli, stopped the campaign besides announcing that he would abstain from campaign activities.
Mr. Ravi, a close associate of Mr. Ambareesh, was not available for comment.
