'Upheld India's True Culture': YS Sharmila Merges YSRTP Into Congress 

YS Sharmila, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy's sister, joins Congress and merges her YSRTP with the grand old party.

YS Sharmila joins Congress

YS Sharmila, daughter of the late YSR and younger sister of Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy, joined hands with Congress party and merged her YSR Telangana Party with the grand old party on Thursday ahead of the Andhra Pradesh assemby elections. She was inducted by party president Mallikarjun Kharge and leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. 

"Today, I am very happy to be merging YSR Telangana party into the Congress party. It gives me immense joy that the YSR Telangana Party is going to be a part of the Indian National Congress from today onwards," she said. 

"Congress party is still the largest secular party of our country and it has always upheld the true culture of India and built foundations of our nation," she added. 

#WATCH | YSRTP chief & Andhra Pradesh CM's sister YS Sharmila joins Congress, in the presence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, in Delhi pic.twitter.com/SrAr4TIZTC

— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2024

Sharmila arrived in the national capital on Wednesday night and when asked at the Delhi airport if she was joining the Congress, she told reporters, "Yes, looks like it".

The Congress party also said earlier that a "very eminent personality" will join the party at 10.30 am on Thursday at the AICC headquarters, according to PTI. 

According to sources, Sharmila has been extended offers including Rajya Sabha seat, AICC General Secretary role and chief of PCC (Pradesh Congress Committee) of Andhra Pradesh.

The move comes nearly two months after Congress party unseated Bharath Rashtra Samithi from its nearly 10-year rule in Telangana and days after Andhra Pradesh Congress chief Rudraraju Gidugu said that several legislators "who have realised that the Congress party is the only hope of Andhra Pradesh will join the party soon".

Earlier, Sharmila had ruled out a merger with Congress during the Telangana polls saying her party would contest on all the 119 seats in the state adding that she would file her nomination from Palair seat. 

However, later she decided not to contest the polls and instead extended her support to the Congress. She also said that she would not contest the polls ensuring that the votes for Congress do not split in the state.