Hyderabad, September 1, 2023
YSRTP (YSR Telangana Party) President YS Sharmila made a significant move today by meeting with AICC’s former presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. During their morning discussion, the leaders reportedly explored the possibility of merging Sharmila’s party with the Indian National Congress.
Sources indicate that YS Sharmila expressed her interest in contesting from Paleru Assembly in Khammam District, a decision that was discussed during the meeting. Additionally, Sharmila has reportedly agreed to collaborate with the Congress in Andhra Pradesh, where her brother, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, currently serves as the Chief Minister.
Notably, no Congress leaders from Telangana were reported to be part of these discussions regarding the potential merger of YRSTP (YSR Telangana Party) with the Congress. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shiva Kumar, played a pivotal role in leading the discussions with Sharmila on the merger, according to sources.
This meeting followed two previous interactions between Sharmila and Shiva Kumar, with the first occurring before the Karnataka Assembly polls and the second after the Congress formed the government in the state.
Following her meeting with Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, YS Sharmila addressed the media and expressed her satisfaction with the meeting. She stated, “I met Sonia and Rahul and expressed happiness over the meeting.” She also asserted that the countdown for the defeat of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and the BRS government has now begun.
The possible inclusion of YS Sharmila into the Congress is expected to have significant repercussions in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, especially considering that Telangana Congress Chief Revanth Reddy has expressed opposition to her entry into the party.
The unfolding developments surrounding this potential merger will undoubtedly be of great interest to political observers in the region.
