Jayasudha quits Congress, joins TDP

Actress-turned-politician Jayasudha on Saturday quit the Congress party and joined the Telugu Desam Party.

She called on TDP president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in Vijayawada and formally joined the party.

The development comes as a setback to Congress party ahead of February 2 elections to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.

Jayasudha was a member of assembly in the undivided Andhra Pradesh from Secunderabad constituency here.

She had joined Congress before 2009 elections and was elected from Secunderabad. She, however, lost the 2014 elections from the same constituency.

She told reporters in Vijayawada that it was because of Naidu's efforts that Hyderabad got global recognition.

Jayasudha, who had campaigned for TDP in 1999 elections, said she would now be active in politics.

The actress was earlier reportedly toying with the idea of joining Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) but finally switched loyalties to TDP.

The 57-year-old, who acted in over 250 films, quit Congress due to differences with the party leaders in the constituency.