DIVYA SPANDANA

Family trouble for Cong? Mom of social media cell chief 'wants' poll ticket

Ramya/Divya Spandana Divya Spandana at the recent Plenary Session of the Congress | Facebook account of Divya Spandana/Ramya

Former Kannada movie actress Divya Spandana, also known as Ramya, has been largely credited with revitalising the digital strategy of the Congress since she took over as the head of its social media cell in 2017.

However, now, her mother has said she would be contesting the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections as an independent candidate from Mandya.

Ranjitha, Spandana's mother, told reporters that she had not asked the Congress for a ticket, claiming it would be unfair and her contesting as an independent candidate didn't mean she was opposed to the party.

However, Ranjitha claimed her contributions as a grassroots worker of the Congress for many years hadn't been recognised. Ranjitha claimed she would take a decision on her candidature by next week.

Ranjitha had previously sought a 'better' position for Spandana, claiming her daughter's profile as head of the party's social media cell was not relevant to voters in Mandya. Ranjitha and Spandana were close to former chief minister S.M. Krishna, who left the Congress to join the BJP in 2017.

Spandana had made her political debut by winning a Lok Sabha bypoll from Mandya in 2013. However, she lost the seat in the 2014 general elections; supporters alleged that some party workers had worked to ensure her loss.