YS Sharmila one of the star politicians in Telugu politics begins a new chapter. She merged her party YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP) with the Congress. Till recently, she was seen as a serious player in Telangana politics but finally decided to join hands with the Congress party during the crucial assembly elections in November 2023. She claimed that the Congress had come to power in Telangana due to her support during the elections.
Now YS Sharmila entered Andhra Pradesh politics ahead of the 2024 general elections. It is being said that she will be handed over the reins of AP Congress. However, Sharmila will have to fight against her brother and current Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. This is expected to benefit the Telugu Desam Party. There is also another argument that splitting the antigovernment vote will benefit YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. It is interesting to note that Jagan Mohan Reddy himself has accused Chandrababu Naidu of creating rifts in his family for his benefit.
YS Sharmila is the daughter of the late CM of United Andhra Pradesh YS Rajasekhar Reddy. She took an active part in the YSR Congress Party which was formed by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy after the death of Rajasekhar Reddy. When Jagan was jailed in CBI cases in United AP, YS Sharmila carried the party on her shoulders and continued the Pada Yatra across the state. In 2019, she worked hard to bring the YSR Congress to power in AP. She continued in the role until 2020. After that, differences arose between the sister and brother. According to media reports, Sharmila and Jagan had differences over family property.
Sharmila suddenly entered into Telangana politics and announced the YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP) on 8 July 2021 intending to bring Rajanna Rajyam (rule of YS Rajasekhar Reddy mark welfare schemes). She took padayatra and traveled extensively across Telangana. Within a short period, YSRTP emerged as a strong opposition. Also, she has responded to the issues of youth, women, and farmers of the state.
YS Sharmila, who announced that her party would contest from all the constituencies in the Telangana Assembly elections, eventually withdrew from the contest in favor of the Congress party. Although she thought to contest from Paleru Assembly of Khammam district, it did not happen. However, her party withdraws from contesting just before the elections in order not to split the antigovernment vote. At the same time, YS Sharmila interacted with Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and also met Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The main purpose of these discussions was to merge the party.
Finally, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has officially merged with the Congress. After coming to power in Karnataka and Telangana, the Congress high command has shifted its focus to neighboring Andhra Pradesh. In this context, it is being said that YS Sharmila will be given the responsibility of AP PCC.
Legacy of YSR:
YS Rajasekhar Reddy died in a plane crash in 2009. In the wake of this, many YSR fans died unable to bear his death. Then YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the state-wide padayatra to express solidarity with them. But the Congress high command did not allow him to take up padayatra. He revolted against Sonia Gandhi and quit the Congress party along with his mother YS Vijayamma. Later he founded the YSR Congress Party.
YS Sharmila was part of the YSR Congress Party till 2020. When her brother YS Jagan was in jail, she closely monitored the party's activities. In the 2019 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, she campaigned extensively for the YSR Congress Party.
Due to family disputes, YS Sharmila quit the YSR Congress Party and entered into Telangana politics. She launched the YSR Telangana Party in 2021. A year after the launch of the new party, her mother YS Vijayamma resigned from her son's YSRCP and announced her support to Sharmila's party.
