Bengaluru: Under pressure from the JDS, which is sensing a defeat in Mandya following below the belt statements of its leaders against actress Sumalatha, wife of former MP, MLA and minister late MH Ambareesh who is popularly known as Rebel Start in Karnataka, the All Indian Congress Committee (AICC) directed major irrigation minister DK Shivakumar to resolve the Mandya political crisis.

According to the sources in the Congress state unit, DKShi has been given the task of convincing Sumalatha from withdrawing her candidature. “If she continues, DKShi has been asked to ensure that the Congress district unit leaders do not support her,” said a senior Congress leader from the Mandya.

Meanwhile, DKShi has asked top Congress leaders from Mandya to meet him at his Bengaluru residence on Sunday evening for tea.

“He is expected to communicate party’s decision to leaders in this meeting,” he stated.