AP Congress president Y S Sharmila’s future hangs in balance. She had contested from Kadapa Lok Sabha Constituency in the just-concluded general elections to the state Assembly and Parliament. She also fielded 175 Congress candidates for the Assembly seats, besides the 25 Parliament seats.
Psephologists say that Sharmila may not get even her deposits in the Kadapa Parliament seat. Even the Congress candidates across the state may not get their deposits. The fight was mostly between the TDP-led alliance and the ruling YSR Congress. Her fight was limited, and she had failed to tour the state during the elections. She restricted herself to the Kadapa seat, leaving the state and the candidates to their fate.
It is alleged that she had ignored the senior Congress leaders during the election. It is also alleged that she took money from some candidates who filed their nominations. There is criticism of her in Congress. Several senior Congress leaders are pointing an accusing finger at Sharmila for her electioneering.
Sharmila started the YSR Telangana Party some time ago. She said that she was born, brought up and married in Telangana. She further said that she would die in Telangana and hence started the party. However, she merged the party ignoring what all she said to the Telangana people.
She came back to Andhra Pradesh and started saying that she would stay in Andhra Pradesh for the rest of her life. This split character in her is not welcomed by the people of Andhra Pradesh. They are not even looking at her as the heir of late Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy. It is only Jagan Mohan Reddy who is considered the heir of Dr Rajasekhar Reddy.
In this regard, it is to be seen what Sharmila would do in Congress. Will she be able to revive the party and prepare it for the 2029 general elections or would leave the party and remain silent.
