Hyderabad: In her transient speech Thursday on the AICC headquarters in New Delhi, moments after her occasion YSRTP’s merger with the Congress, Y.S. Sharmila set the tone for what’s to return.
She referred to Congress because the “largest secular party” in India, expressed concern over the ethnic battle in Manipur in her capability “as a fellow Christian” and mentioned her father, former chief minister of United Andhra Pradesh Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, “wanted to see Rahul Gandhi as PM”.
These sentiments, political observers say, resonate with many in Sharmila’s dwelling state, the place her elder brother Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy has been in energy since 2019. In contrast to her brother who parted methods with the Congress to drift the YSRCP, Sharmila has acknowledged her intent to fulfil her late father’s “dream to see Rahul Gandhi” turn out to be prime minister.
“It was a very conscious remark. Though officially, on paper, Christians are less than two percent in Andhra Pradesh, the actual followers of the faith could be anywhere from 5-10 percent,” Professor D.A.R. Subrahmanyam, chairman of Guntur-based Navyandhra Mental Discussion board, tells ThePrint.
He provides that Muslims, who make up “about 10 percent” of the citizens in Andhra Pradesh, “are not very happy with Jagan as they perceive a hidden alliance (of the YSRCP) with the BJP”.
Analysts additionally consider that for these minorities, TDP chief and former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu will not be a reliable different since he earlier allied with the BJP and is seeking to rekindle the alliance.
“Having joined what she portrayed as the ‘largest secular party’ if Sharmila can mobilise even 25 percent of these sections’ votes away from the YSRCP, it would help significantly revive the Congress in Andhra Pradesh,” says political analyst Bhandaru Srinivasa Rao.
A detailed affiliate of Sharmila tells ThePrint that she will not be hesitant about canvassing in Andhra Pradesh, which can contain confrontation together with her brother. “Her presence matters in Andhra politics and the party also needs her services there. As state Congress chief, she can stake claim to YSR’s legacy,” says the shut affiliate, a former YSRTP chief.
“Let it be Andhra or Andaman, I’ll operate from wherever the party wants me to,” Sharmila had instructed reporters in Delhi after merging her occasion with the Congress.
Andhra Pradesh will go to the polls concurrently the overall election later this 12 months.
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‘Platform for rebel YSRCP leaders’
In keeping with Subrahmanyam, Sharmila’s resolution to hitch forces with the Congress may very well be a game-changer for the occasion in Andhra Pradesh.
Andhra Pradesh, the place the Congress was final in energy — previous to the bifurcation — from 2004 to 2014, added 29 seats to the occasion’s tally in 2004 and 33 within the 2009 common election. In 2014 and 2019, nevertheless, the Congress was routed and didn’t win a single seat within the meeting and Lok Sabha polls in bifurcated Andhra Pradesh.
However state Congress leaders are assured of a turnaround if Sharmila was to mount a vigorous marketing campaign within the run-up to the polls. One other part of occasion leaders believes that her entry into the Congress may assist the occasion courtroom disgruntled YSRPC legislators who’re both denied a ticket or fielded from seats apart from their conventional ones.
As an illustration, Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, who resigned final month because the YSRCP MLA from Mangalagiri as additionally from the occasion, has already introduced his resolution to align with Sharmila. He was reportedly sad over Jagan’s resolution to exchange him because the MLA candidate from Mangalagiri, the seat he first received in 2014 after which once more in 2019.
“Some more are also considering alternatives. For rebel YSRCP leaders reluctant to join the TDP, Sharmila’s Congress offers a timely platform as many of them were previously Congressmen,” says Subrahmanyam. Because the TDP-JanaSena mix good points floor, even when 1-2 p.c of Jagan’s vote financial institution leans in the direction of Sharmila and the Congress, this might dent the YSRCP’s prospects in about 25 meeting seats, he provides.
Bhandaru, nevertheless, believes it’s nonetheless too early to depend one’s chickens. “Jagan is facing some anti-incumbency. But who will benefit from this vote split has to be seen. I came across some apprehensions that Sharmila joining Congress could be beneficial to Jagan,” he says.
“If the Congress wants to criticise Jagan with claims that he ill-treated his sister, Sharmila needs to be given full support and a prominent position within the Congress. Revanth Reddy, an outsider, worked wonders for Congress in Telangana since he had the high command’s patronage,” he tells ThePrint.
He provides that Sharmila’s elevation as state occasion chief may “further boost the morale of Congress cadres in Andhra Pradesh”, particularly after the occasion’s wins in neighbouring Karnataka and Telangana.
‘Jagan’s arrow boomeranged’
Seemingly referring to his sister’s induction into the Congress, Jagan had mentioned at an occasion in Kakinada Wednesday, “Conspiracies are being hatched for the sake of electoral alliances. Families will be split for political benefits.”
Reacting to the chief minister’s remarks, TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu focused Jagan by saying that “his arrow had boomeranged” — an obvious reference to Sharmila’s charisma when she campaigned for her brother in earlier elections.
“How are we responsible for your family affairs and feuds? You should deal with your mother and sister properly instead of slinging mud on others,” Naidu mentioned Wednesday.
Later that night, Sharmila met Jagan on the CM’s residence in Tadepalli, close to Vijayawada. The assembly, a primary in a very long time, reportedly went on for 15-20 minutes throughout which Sharmila invited Jagan to her son Raja Reddy’s engagement occasion and marriage ceremony subsequent month. This was a day earlier than she flew to Delhi to hitch the Congress within the presence of occasion president Mallikarjun Kharge and former occasion president Rahul Gandhi.
Coaching his weapons at Jagan, Andhra Congress media cell chairman Thulasi Reddy instructed reporters in Vijayawada Thursday, “Jagan’s statements are appalling. Did the Congress, Chandrababu or Pawan Kalyan advise Jagan to deny Sharmila her share of properties and political positions?”
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
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