People are voluntarily coming from across Telangana, and even neighbouring states, to support back candidate Barrelakka in Kollapur.
Published Nov 27, 2023 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 27, 2023 | 7:51 PM
Sirisha alias Barrelakka in her campaign at Kollapur along with her close aides. (Supplied)
It’s common for political leaders from other states to campaign in another poll-bound state. What is not is that people voluntarily travel from various places to back an independent candidate.
And they are coming in droves for Karne Sirisha, popular as Barrelakka (cattle-rearer), in the Kollapur constituency of Nagarkurnool district.
The YouTuber entered the fray as an independent “fuelled by frustration” over the postponements and cancellations of Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) exams, she told South First.
What sets her candidacy apart is hers is not an individual effort. She draws support from a group of TSPSC aspirants, also attracting coaching institute academicians, and jobless youth-turned-digital influencers.
They share the same frustration she feels.
The specially designed campaign, featuring DJs, folk-style songs, branded T-shirts, and slogans, has garnered attention all over the internet, with supporters from various parts of the state going live on the ground.
Sirisha, a 25-year-old from a middle-class Dalit family, holds a BCom degree from Nagarkurnool Government College. She is currently pursuing her first year of BEd at the BR Ambedkar Open University in Hyderabad.
Challenged by a “lack of employment opportunities”, she launched a YouTube channel, quickly gaining popularity and amassing 1.6 lakh subscribers.
A notable video from 2021 took a dig at the BRS for the lack of jobs, humorously portraying her as a cattle-rearer. This video went viral, earning her the nickname Barrelakka.
The video led to the Kollapur police registering a suo motu case against her, saying her statement was full of rumours and alarming content that promoted feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between communities.
Undeterred, she continued to create videos addressing unemployment while simultaneously depicting rural life and norms.
Karne Sirisha, alias Barrelakka’s house in Kollapur. (Bhaskar Basava/South First)
Karne Anuradha, Sirisha’s mother, operates a small fast-food noodles centre in front of their house.
While campaigning for her daughter in neighbouring Kodair, she shared with South First how Sirisha’s decision to contest initially took her by surprise.
“At first, I thought she was joking. Later, I warned her to withdraw, considering our poor background and the ongoing government case related to her critical video. Even on the day of nomination and the day of the allotment of her election symbol, she had to appear in the local court. Despite these challenges, I am happy about the support she is receiving for her contest.”
Crowd watching Sirisha while she was attending a media interview in between the campaign. (Bhaskar Basava/South First)
At least a dozen YouTube channels, media houses, and even politicians actively seek interviews or appointments with Sirisha at any given time. Youth from other towns eagerly await all day for a selfie opportunity.
Her family is unused to such sudden attention. They live in a 60 sq ft hut. They survive on the earnings from their fast-food centre.
Peda bidda mana barrelakkaki votu veddam anna..
Dorala palana dopidi rajyam tarimi kodadham anna…
(Let’s vote for our poor child Barrelakka; let’s kick out the feudal and corrupt system)
As many as five to six such campaign songs blare from campaign autorickshaws on the streets.
A youth on the campaign vehicle of Sirisha in Kollapur (Bhaskar Basava/South First)
South First joined Sirisha’s campaign in her hometown, Peddakothapally, where people voluntarily turned up from Hyderabad and other places to express their solidarity.
Poorna, a civil engineer from Hyderabad, and Prasad, from Bengaluru, explained why they came all the way: “I watched a video on her campaign and searched on Google for her, found it interesting and thought to travel here and join the campaign for a day.”
The campaign songs in the videos and the digital campaigning convinced them to meet Barrelakka.
On her part, Sirisha sought support from the professors at the TSPSC coaching academy, several TSPSC aspirants-turned-activists, and a Hyderabad-based YouTube media house she previously worked in.
Her determination and the fact that she came from a small village and was a Dalit to boot moved these people. They are now an active campaign group overseeing her schedule and speeches.
A specially designed campaign with DJ, Telangana folk-style songs, and a pitch to vote for her is what you see in the constituency.
The team has also designed unique T-shirts with her election symbol, the whistle, and the visiting volunteers undertake door-to-door campaigns.
Youth from other cities in large number have joined Barrelakka in the campaign. (Bhaskar Basava/South First)
Vikas of E96 TV Media, a YouTube media house with over two lakh subscribers, told South First: “It was for her courage to stand against the BRS despite her family background. I knew her as I interviewed her for a job, but she didn’t accept the offer due to pressure from the case against her. When she asked me for support, I couldn’t deny it. So, I came here with my team to help her with the digital campaign with all my resources.”
That she is the first Dalit woman to contest from Kollapur, a general constituency, encouraged people like the media house boss to back her.
For her supporters, more than Sirisha winning the election, it is the justness of the cause she has taken up.
Ashok Palakuri is the founder of a Hyderabad-based online TSPSC coaching institute called Ashoka Academy. The BRS government has filed around 10 sedition cases against him for his speeches against TSPSC exam postponements:
“We all knew that she might not win, but we want to bring a wave from here throughout the state. KCR has done nothing for the youth and employees, so all the buzz about Barrelakka is the revolt of the unemployed,” Palakuri told South First.
What hurts him is how the exam postponements affect the aspirants.
“Many in my institute, including Barrelakka, took the Group I, Group II, SI (sub-inspector), and constable examinations. But everyone’s dreams were shattered after their cancellation and subsequent postponement. The unemployed who couldn’t step out and challenge the government are coming and extending their support because they see one of them standing up.”
There are others like Palakuri.
Ayaan Institute, founded by Mohd Anwar, is a coaching institute for police competitive exams where Sirisha prepared for the constable exams. Anwar has now joined her campaign team.
Another member of the team is Devi Prasad, a former contestant from Maheshwaram and a member of the Lok Satta party founded by former IAS officer Jaya Prakash Narayana. He, too, joined her in the shared spirit of addressing unemployment.
Kollapur is not often discussed in terms of politics. Life is slow-paced, just like the lazy sway of the bullock carts that ply the streets. However, there’s a new bustle in the town this time, with people from all over Telangana coming in for Barrelakka.
The local voters, not used to crowds at all and indeed not such an electric campaign, are amazed. All this has also left them thinking.
A bullock cart passing near Karne Sirisha’s campaign. (Bhaskar Basava/ South First)
In fact, the visitors find them warm and welcoming. Something must have struck a chord– the residents go out of their way to inquire about accommodation and become their guides, helping them navigate the streets and colonies and understand the local politics.
That does not mean the locals are supporting the independent candidate. Many have mixed feelings. Some dismiss her as just a YouTuber. Some say she may have entered the fray quite late.
Srinivas, a shopkeeper watching Sirisha live on his mobile phone and who refused to reveal his surname, summed it up for South First: Her entry into politics was a bare fortnight ago by which time most of the people in the constituency had already made up their minds about which party to back.
He believes she has a good chance in the next election if she continues to gain public support through her campaign.
For Barrrelakka, though, only the cause matters.
