In a significant political development, Y S Sharmila, sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, formally joined the Indian National Congress on Thursday. Ending months of speculation, her entry into the Congress was marked by a ceremony attended by key party leaders including AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal.
Sharmila, the daughter of the late Andhra Pradesh CM Y S Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR), made the decision to join Congress after talks with her uncle and former YSRCP MP, Y V Subba Reddy, failed. Sources indicate that Jagan Mohan Reddy, her brother, had sent Subba Reddy as his emissary to persuade Sharmila to join the YSRCP. Jagan, seemingly concerned about the potential impact on his influence and image across the state, sought to dissuade his sister from entering the political fray independently.
Despite these efforts, Sharmila remained resolute in her decision, refusing to align with the YSRCP during meetings held on December 31 and January 1. Instead, she expressed joy in merging her party, YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP), with the Congress. During the announcement, she emphasized her father’s dream to see Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Minister and pledged to work towards that goal.
It gives me great delight on merging YSR Telangana Party with the Congress party! The party that my father belonged to, the party that he lived in, that he served tirelessly, and breathed his last in. This moment would make him most ecstatic and nothing can be more heartening… pic.twitter.com/gbXVQryBBa
— YS Sharmila (@realyssharmila) January 4, 2024
Sharmila lauded the Congress for upholding the true culture of India and serving all communities, emphasizing its role in building the nation’s foundation. She also commended Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, attributing its success to instilling confidence in the people and contributing to the party’s victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls.
Sharmila’s political journey took a distinct turn when she parted ways with her brother and founded the YSRTP in Telangana. Her objective was to carry forward YSR’s legacy and reinstate “Rajanna Rajyam” (YSR’s governance) in the state. The launch of YSRTP did not surprise many, given the reported differences between the brother-sister duo, stemming from their father’s demise in 2009.
Sources close to the family suggest that Sharmila had longed for political space, feeling that Jagan had appropriated the YSR legacy. Alleged financial issues and her mother’s unwavering support to Jagan during the formative years of the YSRCP further strained their relationship.
Married to Brother Anil Kumar, known for his evangelical preaching in Andhra Pradesh, Sharmila has two children. The couple faced controversies, including Anil Kumar’s meeting with filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma during the filming of an anti-TDP movie.
Despite her familial connection to Telangana, Sharmila failed to capture the voters’ imagination in the state, unlike her brother’s success in Andhra Pradesh. The buzz around Sharmila’s proximity to the Congress heightened after she met Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, a key campaigner for the Congress in Telangana polls, following the state elections.
Before the Telangana Assembly elections, Sharmila expressed her intention to merge YSRTP with the Congress. However, her move faced opposition from state Congress leaders, leading to a temporary retreat. She later announced her party’s intention to contest all 119 seats in the state but eventually withdrew, expressing happiness in contributing to the Congress’s victory in Telangana.
While Sharmila has not contested any elections so far, her role as the national convener played a pivotal part in expanding the YSRCP during its initial years. Her entry into the Congress marks a new chapter in her political journey and adds a significant player to the party’s ranks. As she aligns herself with the Congress, only time will reveal the impact of Sharmila Reddy’s decision on the political landscape of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
see also : YS Sharmila son’s Marriage update