New role for Vijayashanti stumps TS Congress leaders

Hyderabad: Vijayashanthi’s appointment as Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Campaign Committee chairperson has taken party leaders by surprise. The committee, headed by her, is given the task of chalking out campaign strategy in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. Former Minister D K Aruna would be her deputy and both of them will spearhead the party’s campaign. The committee also comprises MLA T Jagga Reddy. 

The State Congress leaders expressed surprise at the appointment of Vijayashanthi as chairperson of the Campaign Committee. Sources in the party said the decision has been taken by the All India Congress Committee (AICC). The State leadership has  not been consulted. The sources said the AICC could have appointed Vijayashanthi as chairperson of Campaign Committee keeping her image as veteran artiste in view. Her fight for Telangana state and ability to take on the Telangana Rashtra Samithi might have also influenced the decision.

The leaders said apart from her image, Vijayashanthi’s political moves have also forced the AICC to appoint her as chairperson of Campaign Committee. The veteran artiste was angry with the party leadership for not giving importance to her in the Assembly elections. Though she expected posts like AICC general secretary, working president of TPCC and chairperson of Campaign Committee for the Assembly elections, she was made star campaigner in that polls at the last minute.  

Party leaders said her recent visit to Bangalore to meet leader of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazagam and close aide of former Chief Minister of Tamil Naidu J Jayalalithaa, V Sasikala, in the prison forced the AICC to give Vijayashanthi a big role in State politics. Some leaders of the party said Vijayashanthi planned to contest on behalf of Sasikala’s party in Tamil Nadu. They said the Telugu star has good following among the Tamil voters. Sensing the danger of losing her, the AICC decided to give her a big role in the State politics.