YS Sharmila | Hyderabad / New Delhi, January 4 (Maxim News): YS Sharmila, the leader of YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP) and sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, officially joined the Congress ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls 2024, confirming months of speculation.
In a press conference following her formal entry into the party, YS Sharmila expressed her belief in the Congress, stating that it remains the largest secular party in the country, upholding the true culture of India and contributing to the foundation of the nation.
Her decision to join the Congress was made in the presence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi.
YS Sharmila
Speculation about Sharmila merging her YSRTP with the Congress had surfaced before the Telangana Assembly elections in November the previous year. Although the merger did not materialize at that time, she chose not to participate in the elections to avoid splitting pro-Congress votes.
Sharmila, the daughter of the late Andhra Pradesh CM Y S Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR), decided to join the Congress after unsuccessful talks with her uncle, former YSRCP MP Y V Subba Reddy. Sources suggest that Jagan Mohan Reddy had sent Subba Reddy as his emissary to persuade Sharmila to join YSRCP, fearing that her entry into state politics could impact his influence and image.
The political separation between the brother-sister duo occurred in July 2021 when Sharmila established her political outfit in Telangana, diverging from the YSRCP’s objective of advancing YSR’s legacy and reinstating “Rajanna Rajyam” (YSR’s governance).
YS Sharmila’s entry into the Congress sets the stage for a potential sibling rivalry in the upcoming simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in the state. This development could have implications for the future of Jagan Mohan Reddy and the Congress, which has faced challenges in the state since its bifurcation in 2014.
Jagan and Sharmila
The strained relationship between Jagan and Sharmila, evident since their father’s death in 2009, has been marked by differences in their political approaches. Jagan took charge of the YSRCP in 2011 after a fallout with the Congress, while Sharmila served as its national convener. Sharmila later founded YSRTP in Telangana but faced challenges in gaining voter support.
Married to Brother Anil Kumar, known for evangelical preaching, Sharmila has previously taken on the K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR)-led BRS government in Telangana on various issues. However, she has not achieved the political traction her brother has in Andhra Pradesh. Despite controversies, including an incident where she assaulted a policeman on duty, her attempt to merge YSRTP with the Congress faced opposition from state leaders.
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