Vijayashanthi Returns To Congress Fold After Nine-Year Hiatus

Vijayashanthi, the actor-turned-politician, stepped down from the Telangana BJP on Wednesday and is likely to join Congress party on Friday, according to reports. The report further indicated that she sent her resignation to BJP Telangana president G Kishan Reddy.

Over the past 25 years, Vijayashanthi has shuttling between the two national parties and TRS (now BRS). She initially joined the Andhra Pradesh BJP in 1997, departed to join the Telangana movement, and affiliated with TRS in 2009. Her journey continued as she left TRS to join Congress in 2014 but then switched to BJP in 2020.

Speculation about her departure from BJP has circulated for the last six months, citing her discontent with the party's functioning in the state. Despite efforts by senior party leaders to persuade her to remain, she has opted to rejoin Congress. Her anticipated re-entry into the grand old party is expected to take place in the presence of Rahul Gandhi.

There are murmurs suggesting Vijayashanthi's desire for a Lok Sabha ticket from the Medak constituency under the Congress banner. Although she contested on a Congress ticket in the 2014 assembly elections for the same constituency, she did not secure the seat.

Her candidacy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections remains uncertain, pending the outcome of assembly election results, which might influence the ticket allotment.

Vijayashanthi's legacy in Telugu cinema comprises over 187 films, featuring prominently in influential movies such as "Karthavyam," "Gang Leader," "Osey Ramulamma," and "Swayam Krushi." She shared the screen with leading actors of the 90s, including Chiranjeevi, Venkatesh, and Balakrishna.