Bengaluru: Former CM, Congress legislative party leader Siddaramaiah has warned the Mandya Congress leaders against supporting independent candidate Sumalatha, wife of former party leader, Rebel Star Ambareesh.

In a closed-door meeting with the party leaders from the district, he is said to have directed them not to support Sumalatha, who is taking coalition candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy head on. “The party has taken a decision. This decision is final. If you extend support in Mandya, it will affect the party in the Mysuru,” he said.

He also warned the leaders that if Nikhil is defeated in the Mandya, action will be initiated against them. “It is not child’s play. We need to win a maximum number of seats,” he said.

Sumalatha’s decision to contest the polls has become a massive headache to the coalition government. While the Congress is looking at ensuring victory for Nikhil Kumaraswamy from the seat matrix point of view, the JDS wants Nikhil to win because it is a prestige issue as Nikhil is the JDS scion, who is debuting in politics this LS polls.