Now, Barrelakka to Contest Lok Sabha Elections!

Hyderabad: 25-year-old Karne Sirisha, who is popularly known as Barrelakka, unsuccessfully contested the Telangana assembly elections from Kollapur constituency of the Nagarkurnool district. However, she created ripples in the political circle after she filed her nomination from the assembly segment. 

Barrelakka ( sister who owns buffaloes) hails from Marikel village of Peddakothapalli mandal. She completed her graduation through distance learning and took up a private job in Hyderabad but soon left her job to prepare for government jobs. She started preparing for the Group services exams but the frequent delay in the job notifications and subsequent question paper leak issue, she returned to her village disappointed and bought four buffaloes with the assistance from her mother. 

One day, she shot a video while herding the buffaloes in which she made critical remarks against the BRS government and posted the video on her YouTube, Instagram and Facebook channels. The video soon got viral and it also attracted the attention of the police. A case was booked against her and she was forced to frequently visit the court and police station. 

It is then the dejected unemployed woman decided to take a plunge in politics and filed a nomination from Kollapur assembly seat as an independent candidate. The news of her nomination received wide coverage in both online and traditional media which made the contestants from the mainstream parties take notice of her growing support each day. She started getting threatening telephone calls and was offered money and a house to withdraw her nomination. Some unidentified assailants even attacked her brother but she stood her ground. 

Congress candidate and former minister Jupally Krishna Rao won the Kollapur seat and Sirisha got fourth place in the elections. Despite receiving huge publicity, the young woman polled only 5,598 votes. Even though she lost the election as an independent candidate but won the hearts of many voters by contesting the elections on behalf of the unemployed youth. 

While speaking to media persons after the results for Kollapur assembly seat were declared, Sirisha said due to lack of time she could not campaign extensively in her constituency. She said she did not distribute money to buy votes. Undeterred by the discouraging results of assembly elections, Sirisha said she is preparing to contest the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls. 

Also Read: 3 Telugu NRIs Arrest Incident in US: YSRCP's Strong Counter to TDP's Mud-Slinging