New Delhi (Agency): Y S Sharmila, the daughter of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and sister of current Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, is reportedly considering merging her YSR Telangana Party with the Congress party. Sources suggest that Sharmila may make the announcement of the merger at the Congress’ upcoming mega rally near Hyderabad on September 17.
Sharmila’s meeting with top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the national capital has sparked speculation about her potential alignment with the Congress party. While the details of the meeting remain undisclosed, sources indicate that Sharmila’s YSR Telangana Party could merge with the Congress in the near future.
Congress general secretary K C Venugopal confirmed Sharmila’s meeting with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, describing it as a cordial and constructive discussion. When asked about the possibility of a merger, Venugopal stated, “Rest of the things you wait and see.”
The timing of the potential merger holds significance as Telangana is scheduled to go to polls later this year. The Congress party is planning to hold a “mega rally” near Hyderabad on September 17, coinciding with Telangana National Integration Day. During this rally, the Congress is set to announce five guarantees for Telangana as part of its campaign strategy for the upcoming Assembly polls.
Sharmila’s active involvement in politics became prominent during her vigorous campaigning for her brother Jagan Mohan Reddy during the 2019 Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls. Following the elections, she established her own political entity, the YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP), in Telangana.
The possibility of Sharmila merging her party with the Congress has been a subject of speculation for some time. In May, Sharmila met Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in Bengaluru to congratulate him on the party’s victory in the neighboring state. During the meeting, Sharmila had expressed her commitment to working for the benefit of the people of Telangana and hinted at the potential electoral competition in the state.
If the merger takes place, it could potentially strengthen the Congress party’s position in Telangana and reshape the political landscape ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls.