VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh is set to witness a high-stakes sibling rivalry during upcoming elections as
Congress
appointed
YS Sharmila
, sister of CM and YSRCP chief
YS Jagan Mohan Reddy
, as
APCC president
Tuesday.
The two are expected to fiercely fight for the legacy of their late father former CM YS Rajasekhar Reddy during Lok Sabha and assembly polls, scheduled to be held simultaneously this year in the state.
While Jagan has named numerous state schemes after YSR, who had headed APCC in undivided Andhra and led Congress to victory in the 2004 polls, Sharmila's appointment is seen as an effort to reclaim Congress's association with YSR.
Congress banks on Sharmila to revive influence in Andhra
Though there haven't been direct public confrontations between the siblings, YSRCP leaders have hinted at a robust approach toward Sharmila during the election campaign. Those not aligned with YSRCP have been warned of being treated as adversaries.
Congress leadership anticipates that Sharmila's political presence could attract supporters who had deserted the party after the bifurcation of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh in 2014. As YSR's daughter, Congress sees her as a potential catalyst to revive the party's past influence, especially considering its current absence in the state legislature. From winning consecutive assembly elections in 2004 and 2009, Congress does not have a single MLA now.
Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge officially announced Sharmila's appointment. Outgoing APCC president Gidugu Rudra Raju stepped down to facilitate her appointment.
Sharmila had formed YSR Telangana Party ahead of 2023 assembly elections in Telangana and supported Congress.