April 16 (UNI): Mandya Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka, known as sugar bowl of the State is bracing itself to witness high-voltage poll battle between the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition candidate Nikhil K and independent candidate Sumalatha.
Polling in this segment will be held during the first phase Karnataka LS elections on April 18.
With young cinema actor Nikhil, son of chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, who is contesting as JD(S) candidate and senior actress Sumalatha, wife of late actor-tuned-politician Ambarish fighting it out in a neck and neck race, the battle lines have been drawn and an exciting finish is on the cards.
It is a high stakes battle for Kumaraswamy as a loss to his son would mean that his post as chief minister may get a jolt and even result in the wobbling coalition government face difficult situation, that may even end up in its fall.
BJP, which is giving outside support to Sumalatha say that the result which is in her favour may lead to the fall of the coalition government post May 23 counting of votes.
In all 22 candidates are in the fray with 17 lakh voters and polling on April 18 in the first of elections in the state .
Comprising eight Assembly segments — Malavalli, Maddur, Melkote, Mandya, Srirangapatna, Nagamangala and K.R. Pet in Mandya district, and Krishnarajanagar in Mysore district — the Mandya Lok Sabha constituency is considered a safe seat for the JD-S as it had won all the eight assembly segments in the 2018 Assembly polls.
But the equation is not the same in this bitterly fought battle as LS polls is a different ball game.
