Actor Ambareesh agrees to contest polls, sure of win

Bangalore, April 8 (IANS) Kannada film actor and MP Ambareesh has cleared all doubts about his contesting elections - he has agreed to be the Congress party's candidate from Karnataka's Mandya constituency.

He says he is confident of winning this time as well.

'I am confident of a big win even this time too,' Ambreesh, who won the Mandya seat with a margin of over 200,000, told IANS. 'Take it from me, my fight is not with BJP's (Bharatiya Janata Party) Shivarame Gowda, who is showing his lack of political decency in criticising me.'

'My contest is with former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda and his son H.D. Kumaraswamy who have a great influence in this constituency. But I will work hard in my campaign, channelise all resources and will win the elections,' he added.

Prior to the elections, Ambareesh is visiting temples in Karnataka and Kerala to seek divine blessings. After consenting to be a Congress candidate, the actor is seen visiting temples in and around Mandya as well along with colleagues like director Prem.

Ambareesh has been lying low ever since he was defeated from the Srirangapattanam constituency in the last assembly elections. He had even publicly said that the infighting in the Congress and the double-crossing of many big party leaders had led to his defeat.

'I would like to spend more time with my family now. I would keep away from politics for some more time,' Ambareesh had then told reporters.