Under KCR family’s rule, the Telangana people have faced troubles and tragedies quite similar to those of main character Ramulamma in the film “Osey Ramulamma”.

These are the words of Congress party’s star campaigner and actress Vijayashanti who kicked off her electioneering after offering puja at the famous Jogulamba Devi Temple at Alampur in Gadwal district on Thursday.

“Osey Ramulamma” was a hugely successful revenge drama in its time two decades ago and the film went on to capture imagination of Telangana’s rural masses and held them spellbound for several years. It portrayed an abused rustic bonded labour girl taking revenge against the evil landlord. Vijayashanti played the main role.

Ever since, wherever the star goes, the film legacy goes with her.

Now Vijayashanti likened the situation of Telangana people to that of Ramulamma to apparently make KCR and family look like villains of 2019 elections. In her speeches, she also deplored that the rule of ‘exploitating Doras’ (KCR’s community) has come back after statehood was achieved.

She lamented that so many sacrifices were made to make Telangana a reality and all this seemed now as if all that had happened for the benefit only one family that is KCR’s. As a result, the past days of bonded life and unbearable slavery appeared to have returned as well.

Vijayashanti has mounted this scathing attack on KCR on the very first day of her campaign, which has also taken Mahakutami activists present there by surprise. Recalling her days in TRS, she asked as to why KCR promised to protect her like a sister but later suspended her from the party altogether without giving any reason for that. She said KCR was a leader with no principles and one who will deceive others for no reason.

But analysts are doubtful whether Mahakutami can rise to the occasion and dethrone KCR. He has shown in 2014 how he mesmerised people by claiming all the glory for separate statehood and won while Congress struggled hard despite having granted statehood and simply lost.

A campaign watcher says that it is Vijayashanti who is facing tragedies of Ramulamma in real life considering her film and political career falling on bad days for quite some time.

Vijayashanti of Osey Ramulamma fame is not going to contest in 2019 elections in Telangana but she will be rendering her services as the star campaigner for Congress-TDP alliance there. Once the Lady Amitab of South Indian film industry, Ramulamma could not get a similar success in political scene going by her increasingly low-profile these days.

Having vowed to defeat TRS, Vijayashanti has met Congress President Rahul Gandhi recently and explained to him how she would be touring the nook and corner of Telangana as part of her election campaign. She also indicated her unwillingness to contest elections this time. She has been telling her followers and friends about her decision to stay away from electoral politics without giving any obvious reasons for this.

Insiders say that Vijayashanti has taken this decision considering the fact that she will not be getting a winnable seat of her choice because of the party facing the issue of seat sharing with alliance partners. Moreover, she has no friendly relations with any leader in newly found ally, TDP.

Despite the actress’s decision, Congress leadership is keen to use the services of Vijayashanti in campaign as she still carries enough charisma among the rural masses in Telangana who remember her for her excellent presentation of lead role in the film Ramulamma. The party high command also supported her star campaigner status.

Vijayashanti also has old political scores to settle with KCR as he has thrown her out of TRS without giving any reasons for that. At that time, the actor-turned-politician has claimed that KCR was afraid that KTR and Kavita would not get an elevated image as long as Vijayashanti is in TRS.

In politics as in films, necessity scores over need sometimes and Ramulamma is not an exception for this.

Vijayashanthi

The Telangana Congress is desperately looking for stars who can turn out the party’s fate, with just less than 16 months left for the general elections.

The party leadership is not completely satisfied, even though firebrand Kodangal MLA A Revanth Reddy has given some sort of strength with his entry.To rejuvenate the party cadres, the party requires some star campaigners. As Congress legislature party leader and veteran K Jana Reddy put it, the party requires more than one Baahubali to resurrect the party.

And perhaps, that was the reason why the Congress high command suddenly remembered senior actress and former MP M Vijayashanti. During the Telangana movement, Vijayashanti played a major role. She is a powerful speaker and also a hard core Telangana activist. For a meeting with AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi, she was summoned to Delhi on Tuesday for a meeting.

Besides a key position in the AICC as well, Vijayashanti is likely to be made in-charge of the party’s campaign committee in Telangana, as per reports from New Delhi. But, at this sudden development, the party ranks are much surprised. According to them, Vijayashanti is a spent force and has almost been forgotten by the people and the party leaders. Following her defeat in 2014 elections, she has not been staying away from active politics. The last time one had heard about her was when she called on jailed AIADMK leader Sasikala. It led to the rumours that she would join Tamil politics, calling it quits for the Telangana.

So, doubts have arouse whether Vijayashanti would be of any use to the Telangana Congress. She will become a competitor for many leaders who are aspiring for big positions, on the other hand. Rather than spent forces like Vijayashanti who make guest appearances in the party, the Congress should look for real leaders.