Andhra CM Jagan’s Sister Sharmila to Join Congress

New Delhi: YS Sharmila, sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party chief Jagan Mohan Reddy, is expected to join the Congress this week. She is the founder president of the YSR Telangana Party.

Sharmila’s decision follows the win of the Congress in the Assembly elections in Telangana. It is reported that Sharmila will be given a key organizational position in the Congress party in Telangana ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The party hopes that several others may leave the YSRCP to join the Congress.

In 2012 YSRCP was formed when her brother Jagan Mohan Reddy parted ways with the Congress. She and her mother YS Vijayamma led the campaign when Jagan was in jail after being arrested on corruption charges. The YSRCP swept the polls.

In 2021, Ms Sharmila expressed her political differences with her brother Jagan. She announced the formation of the YSR Telangana Party. In 2023, Sharmila announced that she would not contest the Telangana election to support the Congress.

Sharmila has fallen out with her brother, her party is also not doing well and she is facing a funds crunch to continue her party activities. These are said to be the reasons for her decision to join the Congress. The Congress feels, her induction may benefit the party in its fight against the BJP in Telangana.