Hyderabad: Former Secunderabad MLA and acclaimed actress Jayasudha officially became a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, marking a significant political shift. The induction ceremony, held at the BJP office in New Delhi, witnessed the presence of key party figures, including Union Tourism Minister and Telangana BJP president G Kishan Reddy, BJP General Secretary and Telangana Incharge Tarun Chug, and party’s national vice-president DK Aruna.
Jayasudha’s decision to join the BJP comes after she was formally invited by Kishan Reddy, adding fuel to speculations that had been circulating for about a year regarding her potential shift to the party. Earlier interactions had taken place between Jayasudha and BJP MLA and Former Minister Eatala Rajender, where she was encouraged to join the party. The actress was reported to have outlined certain conditions as prerequisites for her membership, and it seems the BJP leadership has responded affirmatively to her terms.
As per sources, the BJP has assured Jayasudha of a party ticket for the upcoming Assembly elections scheduled later this year. The anticipation is that she might contest from the Secunderabad Assembly constituency, a seat she once represented. The actress’ inclusion is part of the BJP’s strategy to attract leaders and prominent personalities from various spheres to bolster its position for the 2023 Assembly elections.
Jayasudha, whose prominent roles in films spanned the 1970s and 1980s, ventured into politics in 2009 upon an invitation from Congress leader and then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy. She secured a victory in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections from the Secunderabad constituency on a Congress ticket that year. Although she could not retain the seat in the 2014 elections, she continued her political journey, moving to the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 2016. Her role within the TDP remained relatively subdued.
In 2019, Jayasudha, accompanied by her son Nihar Kapoor, joined the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) led by YS Jaganmohan Reddy, who subsequently assumed the role of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister. Jayasudha’s decision to now align with the BJP signifies another noteworthy phase in her political trajectory, raising anticipation about her contributions and impact within the new party landscape.
