Telugu movie star and Bharatiya Janata Party Mahila Morcha vice-president Vijayashanti has decided to quit films and fight for a separate Telengana state.
She has also rejected her party's offer for a nomination to the Rajya Sabha.
"I have five films on hand and after completing the assignments, I will devote my time to the Telangana cause," Vijayashanti said in Hyderabad on Sunday.
She said she would contest the Lok Sabha polls either from Warangal or Karimnagar district of Andhra Pradesh.
She said she had informed the BJP high command to refrain from nominating her to the Upper House.
"I am not after power. I'm fighting for a cause and it would send conflicting and confusing signals if I accept the Rajya Sabha post," she said.
Asserting that she would continue to be in the BJP, Vijayashanti said, "I will try to convince the party leadership on the Telangana issue."
Vijayashanti's announcement came amidst rumours that she is moving close to the activities of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti floated by former assembly deputy speaker K Chandrasekhar Rao.
The Telugu Desam Party, a key ally of the BJP, favours an integrated state for overall development while the TRS has been making inroads into the mass base of all political parties in the Telangana region.
