I consider it is my duty and responsibility to protect the interests of Congress workers and leaders in Mandya, and I reiterate that I will contest from Mandya on the Congress ticket and there will be no change in the decision.
— Sumalatha
I was quite good academically. My uncles wanted me to go for the civil services.
My first campaign message is: You can fight an election with clean and healthy methods without resorting to dirty tricks and cheap talk. This is my first agenda.
I am not a professional politician.
Congress leaders did not exert pressure on me to contest from Bengaluru South. But I told them categorically that there is no question of contesting from any other constituency except Mandya because of the bonding my family has with the people.
I hate the word 'politician' in connection with me as I do not see myself as one.
I am not going to pretend I will change the landscape of Mandya in one day.
In 1981 I had 21 releases so you can imagine. I was doing three shifts. It was chaotic. I was in the studio or airports. The quality did suffer along with appearance but we didn't pause to think.
I can assure people of Mandya that I will be an efficient voice of the district. Farm distress is a cause of concern and I want to fight it.
If I want to enter politics, it will be only from Mandya. Otherwise, I will be totally away from politics as it is not my ambition at all.
