YS Sharmila, daughter of late YS Rajasekhara Reddy, has gained attention with her YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP). Although she denies plans to merge her party, talks with Congress leaders suggest otherwise. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar is believed to have facilitated a deal between Sharmila and the Congress leadership.
If she merges with Congress, she may receive a Rajya Sabha seat from Karnataka. Sharmila rose to prominence with her “Paadayatra” in support of her brother YS Jagan in undivided Andhra Pradesh. However, differences led her to form the YSR Telangana Party. Her aggressive stance and criticism of the ruling BRS and Chief Minister KCR have caused trouble for her.
While Sharmila’s influence in Telangana is limited, analysts fear she may split votes among the Reddy community. Even a small percentage of split votes could impact the fiercely competitive race between the BRS, Congress, and BJP in Telangana.
To counter this, the Congress party has intervened. Telangana PCC chief Revanth Reddy sought the assistance of DK Shivakumar, who has close ties with the YSR family. It is rumored that Sharmila has been offered a Rajya Sabha seat from Karnataka, with possible responsibilities for Andhra Pradesh. The crucial question remains: will Sharmila go against her brother, Chief Minister Jagan, in Andhra Pradesh? If she joins Congress, it is expected to ignite political tensions in Andhra Pradesh rather than Telangana.