YS Sharmila Joins Congress: Top 10 Points On Her Political Journey

After the merger of her party YSRTP with the Congress, the 49-year-old Sharmila is expected to take on a national role within the grand old party.

Sharmila is the daughter of the late former United Andhra Pradesh CM YS Rajasekhara Reddy who represented the Congress party

Source : Twitter/@realyssharmila

In a major political move, YS Sharmila, sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy and founder of YSR Telangana Party, joined Congress on Thursday. She joined the national party in the presence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and MP Rahul Gandhi at 11 AM at AICC headquarters in New Delhi. 

After the merger of her party YSRTP with the Congress, the 49-year-old Sharmila is expected to take on a national role within the grand old party. Sharmila's political decisions are also anticipated to influence the dynamics of Andhra Pradesh assembly elections and Lok Sabha polls.

Here are 10 key things to know about YS Sharmila:

• Sharmila was the sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy and the daughter of the late former United Andhra Pradesh CM YS Rajasekhara Reddy, who represented the Congress party.
• After the tragic death of YS Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) in a plane crash in 2009, Jaganmohan Reddy initiated a state tour. However, this tour was not supported by the Congress leadership due to which Jagan along with his mother Vijayamma resigned from the party.
• Initially, Sharmila politically aligned herself with her brother  Jagan Mohan Reddy who founded Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP). She served as the party convener for the YSR Congress Party.
• In June 2012, Sharmila gained prominence when she actively participated in campaigning for the YSR Congress Party alongside her mother YS Vijayamma. This involvement occurred during the absence of her elder brother YS Jaganmohan Reddy.
• In the corresponding election, YSRCP recorded a good win in both Assembly and by-elections. In the bypolls, she won the sole Parliament seat that she contested.
• However, she parted ways with her brother after political differences. Despite her earlier affiliation, Sharmila announced the formation of her own political party on July 8, 2021, in Telangana. The chosen date held significance as it marked the birth anniversary of her father, Rajasekhara Reddy.
• With the formation of her party, Sharmila expressed her political aspirations in Telangana. She has been involved in various political activities and campaigns.
• Starting from 2022, Sharmila hinted at joining the Congress party on multiple occasions. She met Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi in 2022.
• Initially expressing her intention to contest Telangana elections, Sharmila later reversed her decision. She stated that she would refrain from contesting to prevent the splitting of Congress votes in the state.
• Against this backdrop, Sharmila merged her party, YSR Telangana Party with the grand old party.  
• Sharmila's political moves ahead of Lok Sabha and Assembly Elections in Andhra Pradesh are anticipated to set the stage for a competitive election battle between the siblings in the upcoming elections in May.
   
• In her personal life, Sharmila is married to evangelist Brother Anil Kumar. The couple has two children named Raja Reddy and Anjili Reddy.