The date is about. On July 8, 2021, YS Sharmila Reddy will formally float a political get together in Telangana on the beginning anniversary of her late father and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister, YS Rajasekhara Reddy. For somebody who has largely remained behind the towering shadows of YSR, and her brother, Jagan Mohan Reddy, 47-year-old Sharmila’s political ambitions have shocked many.
Both the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress declare Sharmila is being utilized by Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief and chief minister Okay Chandrashekar Rao to separate the anti-incumbency votes forward of the 2023 meeting elections within the state. Many throughout the TRS, nevertheless, have referred to as her “the B-team of BJP”, particularly roped in to chop into the Reddy neighborhood and Christian vote financial institution. While the TRS is the principal political power in Telangana, the Congress has misplaced floor and the BJP is trying to discover a political foothold in what it perceives because the largely empty opposition house.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has distanced himself from his sister’s political plans, although she doesn’t seem to pose any menace to him proper now along with her gaze centered on Telangana. However, Sharmila’s transfer has been backed by her mom, YS Vijayalakshmi, who stated she was completely satisfied her daughter had chosen to serve the individuals of Telangana. The daughter had the identical guts as her father, Vijayalakshmi added. Sharmila’s evangelist husband, Bro Anil Kumar, has additionally come out in her assist. “Wishing my wife the very best in this new chapter of life. Go make the change! Fulfill the aspirations of the people of Telangana!!” he tweeted on April 9 together with {a photograph} of the couple.
‘Outsider’ tag
While her opponents are busy decoding her technique, observers say a political novice like Sharmila has a collection of odds stacked towards her. “Anti-Andhra sentiments are still strong and Sharmila will find it difficult to counter this since her father had vehemently opposed the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. She will have to shed her outsider tag in order to make inroads into Telangana,” says professor E Venkatesu, division of political science, University of Hyderabad.
Another massive problem for her could be to clear her stand on the longstanding water disputes between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, amid allegations that her brother and Andhra CM Jagan Mohan Reddy is illegally setting up irrigation initiatives on the Krishna river.
During her first public assembly in Khammam, as soon as thought of the citadel of YSR, an emotionally charged Sharmila gave a point-by-point rebuttal of all of the questions raised by her opponents.
“TRS, BJP and Congress have failed the people of Telangana. They have nothing more to offer. Today many are questioning my identity, but here is my message for them— I am the daughter of this soil, I was raised here, my children were born here, I love this state more than anything. I won’t let anyone snatch away anything that belongs to this state, not even a single drop of water,” she stated.
“Singham eppudu single gaane vasthundi (meaning a lion always comes alone, a dialogue from superstar Rajinikanth’s popular 2007 film Sivaji). My party will not work under any party. I am an arrow that has been released by the people of Telangana.”
In the identical breath, Sharmila additionally made it clear that she’s right here for the long term and can calm down solely after changing into the chief minister and bringing again ‘Rajanna Rajyam’ (YSR’s golden rule).
Who will get harm?
BJP chief Krishna Saagar Rao says Sharmila is a non-entity so far as Telangana is worried. “Since Jagan didn’t offer her any role in YSRCP, she has come to Telangana seeking political employment, but she will make zero impact here,” he stated.
Political observers imagine Sharmila might have a debilitating affect on the Congress, which is locked in a bitter battle with the BJP to retain its quantity 2 spot, after the saffron get together’s stupendous efficiency within the Dubbaka bypoll and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections late final yr.
“If Sharmila is able to find her foothold in Telangana, then she is likely to bag the support of the influential Reddy community, which has been out of power for so long. In which case, the already- weakened Congress will be in a complete shambles,” stated professor E Venkatesu.
The Reddy neighborhood solely accounts for 7% of Telangana’s 39.9 million inhabitants, however it’s the strongest sect within the state owing to its social standing and wealth. At least seven members of this neighborhood have turn out to be chief ministers together with the likes of Kasu Brahmananda Reddy, Marri Chenna Reddy, YS Rajasekhara Reddy and Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy. But the Reddy juggernaut got here to a screeching halt after Okay Chandrashekar Rao, who hails from one other higher caste neighborhood, Velma, got here to energy publish the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in 2014.
Many outstanding leaders of this neighborhood have already abandoned the Congress because of its diminishing presence and a number of inner rifts. The newest chief to half methods is former MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, who’s gearing up to launch his personal political outfit. In the previous, highly effective leaders like Sabitha Indra Reddy and DK Aruna who had been a part of YSR’s cupboard, ditched the grand previous get together and switched to the TRS and BJP respectively.
Political analyst Prof Okay Nageshwar, nevertheless, factors out that Sharmila can have the facility to dislodge the Reddy and minority vote financial institution solely when she turns into a strong power to reckon with.
“It’s too early to predict her electoral fortunes. Even (film star) Vijayashanti had floated a regional party in 2005 but ended up merging with the TRS later. Superstar Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena is still struggling for survival in Telangana,” he stated. “There seems to be no political vacuum for a new regional party’s growth in Telangana since the TRS, Congress and BJP have left space for none.”
Only time will inform whether or not Telangana’s voters are prepared to provide house to a different regional get together or not, however Sharmila’s respectable group of followers imagine she will likely be a recreation changer within the close to future
“She is a natural leader just like how YSR was; we have seen her taken on different roles to bring Jagan to power in Andhra Pradesh,” stated Nathaniel, who hails from Vizag. “Now it’s her time to shine.”
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