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YS Sharmila takes charge as Andhra Pradesh Congress president

Meanwhile, Mangalagiri MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, who resigned from the ruling YSRCP, joined the Congress in the presence of Sharmila.

Bhaskar Basava

Published Jan 21, 2024 | 5:03 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 21, 2024 | 5:05 PM

YS Sharmila with Alla Ramakrishna Reddy. (Supplied)

YS Sharmila with Alla Ramakrishna Reddy. (Supplied)

YS Sharmila assumed the role of Andhra Pradesh Congress chief on Sunday, 21 January. In a shot in the arm for her, Mangalagiri MLA, Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, who quit the Jagan Mohan Reddy–led YSRCP recently, joined Congress.

The event was marked by the presence of senior Andhra Pradesh Congress leaders such as former party chief Raghuveera Reddy and former Rajya Sabha member KVP Ramachandra Rao.

The daughter of the late two-time chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh and Congress stalwart YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Sharmila is also the sister of the current Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP head, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Upon her induction, she criticised her brother YS Jagan for the police restricting her rally to the party office.

Also Read: YS Sharmila appointed Andhra Pradesh Congress president

Blames TDP, YSRCP for AP debt

Speaking at the private venue in Kanuru as she assumed leadership, she accused both the TDP and YSRCP led by Jagan of plunging the state into a debt trap of at least ₹10 lakh crores.

“Even after all these Andhra Pradesh doesn’t have a capital and a metro,” Sharmila emphasised.

“Even though the people of Andhra Pradesh didn’t vote for the BJP, all the MPs from both the YSRCP and the TDP are working for them. Why should people vote for these parties now? The TDP and the YSRCP are in alliance with the BJP,” she questioned.

She further directed a question to the TDP and the YSRCP: “If the BJP had fulfilled any promises like Special Status for the state, then these parties supporting it could be justified. But what did BJP do for Andhra Pradesh?”

She slammed YS Jagan for not criticising Prime Minister Modi on the Manipur attack, despite being a Christian.

Also Read: Read about the YSR family’s fallout with the Congress party

Questions TDP, Jagan

“Despite YS Jagan Mohan Reddy being a Christian, he didn’t utter a single word when 60,000 Christians were displaced, and 2000 churches were attacked in Manipur,” she commented.

She questioned why YS Jagan and the TDP chose not to speak a word when people were suffering under BJP rule.

She appealed to the public and leaders who believe in YSR’s ideology to join hands with her in re-establishing the Congress party in Andhra Pradesh.

“My father, YS Rajasekhar Reddy, was always against the BJP as it is a religious party and not secular. I appeal to everyone who believes in Congress and YSR’s ideology to join hands with YSR’s daughter, YS Sharmila, to re-establish the old values,” she concluded.

Earlier in the day, the convoy of the Congress leader from Vijayawada airport was stopped by the state police, which was followed by a sit-in protest by them.

“The government is afraid of the Congress party. Why did they stop our convoy just when I had taken charge of the party? Are you afraid of us sir?” she asked the chief minister.

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