MANDYA: Flanked by his mother MLA Anitha Kumarswamy , his uncle PWD minister HD Revanna and Congress strategist DK Shivakumar, Nikhil Kumaraswamy filed his nomination papers from the JDS(S) bastion of Mandya on Monday. JD(S) supporters took out a roadshow in a huge show of support before chief minister HD Kumaraswamy’s son filed his nomination papers at the Mandya deputy commissioner’s office at 2.45pm, setting the stage for a high-profile battle between him and actor and independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh.Nikhil will face a tough electoral debut against an opponent who is backed by the BJP and by superstars including Darshan and Yash when Mandya goes to the polls on April 18. Sumalatha had put up a big show while filing her nomination last week.The JD(S) roadshow on Monday was intended to counter this. Thousands of party workers and supporters had the town awash in green and white as Kumaraswamy and Nikhil and Congress leaders slowly made their way along the 6km route from Kalamma Temple to the DC’s office.The convoy took about three hours to cover the distance as a throng of cheering people, more than 500 bullock carts, dance troops and large screens telecasting the event live made for a carnival-like atmosphere.This prompted Sumalatha’s supporters to accuse the JD(S) of mobilising the crowd by spending crores of rupees. The JD(S) was also accused of violating the model code of conduct by telecasting the event without permission.

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