Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan's sister hints at floating new political outfit in Telangana

Y S Sharmila, sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, on Tuesday held talks with her late father's sympathisers here, triggering speculations of her possible political entry in Telangana. Sharmila's father and late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, widely known as YSR, was the Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh from 2004 to 2009.

The Congress leader died in a chopper crash in September 2009. There have been rumours doing rounds on social media for the past few days that Sharmila plans to start a political party in Telangana state without her brother's intervention.

She is believed to be in touch with some prominent political leaders, who were closely associated with late Rajasekhara Reddy, eliciting their suggestions and opinion on bringing "Rajanna Rajyam" (Rajasekhara Reddy's regime) in Telangana.

"I want to understand the ground realities and to take their suggestions and the information they have.. I called people from Nalgonda district. This is just a connection (with them). The meeting will be held with people from every district, she told media before the meeting. Sharmila however did not directly respond when asked if she would launch a political party.

"There is no Rajanna Rajyam now. Why should it not come?" she asked.

To a query, she said, "Jagan Mohan Reddy is doing his job in AP and I will do mine in Telangana." Sharmila and her mother Vijayamma had vigorously campaigned for the YSR Congress party during the general elections in 2019.

However, after Jagan's YSRC clinched a landslide victory and he took over the reins of AP, Sharmila was not seen much in public. A senior legislator of YSR Congress party from Andhra Pradesh on condition of anonymity told PTI that she harbours political ambitions, but, it is not clear now as to where these developments (meetings and discussions) would finally lead to.

Sharmila met sympathisers of Rajasekhara Reddy from the united Nalgonda district at the family's residence at Lotus Pond here. Though the outcome of the discussions was not officially revealed, several participants said she sought to know about the present political situation in the district.

Several banners with portraits of Sharmila, Rajasekhar Reddy were erected at the residence. Jagan's image was conspicuously missing in the banners and flex boards.

A YSR Congress worker from Utnoor in Adilabad said he strongly wants Sharmila to float a party in order to bring "Rajanna Rajyam" (Rajasekhar Reddy's regime) in Telangana also.

Though YSRC party has its presence in Telangana, it did not contest in the last general elections. Sharmila undertook a 'Padayatra' when Jagan was imprisoned in connection with a quid pro quo case in 2012.