Alina
Sharmila Blasts Jagan
for Downfall
In a sharp rebuke, Y. S. Sharmila, the President of Congress’ Andhra Pradesh unit, criticized her brother and YSR Congress Party President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for his leadership, attributing the party’s recent electoral defeat to his arrogance. In the recent elections, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) lost power to the TDP-led NDA, securing only 11 out of 175 seats in the Assembly.
Sharmila’s criticism followed accusations from the YSRCP, labeling her as an agent for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) for urging Jagan to attend the Assembly and confront Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. She retorted, suggesting Jagan’s inability to fight in the Assembly like their father, the late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR), exemplified his failures.
Sharmila accused Jagan of betraying farmers, referencing the neighboring Telangana’s loan waiver program. She reminded him of his promises: a price stabilization fund of Rs 3,000 crore annually and Rs 4,000 crore for crop loss compensation. “You tore apart the YSR Jalayagnam program and betrayed your promise of prohibition,” she said, questioning if there could be any greater deceit.
Sharmila also criticized Jagan for his “illegal ties” with the BJP, accusing him of sacrificing state interests for personal gain. She claimed that Jagan’s collaboration with the BJP contradicted their father’s staunch opposition to the party.
“The YSRCP’s poor performance in the recent elections is a clear reflection of your arrogance and misguided leadership,” Sharmila stated. She highlighted Jagan’s reluctance to face Chandrababu Naidu in the Assembly, a move she saw as a stark contrast to YSR’s combative spirit.
In her social media post, Sharmila mocked Jagan, stating, “You should be kept in a museum for your stupidity. That’s why I told you to look in the mirror. You are obsessed with Chandrababu, seeing him everywhere, even in your reflection.”
Sharmila, daughter of the former Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, emphasized that she bears no grudges against her brother despite his attempts to insult her on social media. “I have the courage to call a spade a spade. It’s our right to question wrongdoings, irrespective of the party,” she asserted.
She criticized Jagan for not attending the Assembly, terming it a disrespect to the legislative process and demanding his resignation for the same. Sharmila warned that if YSR statues were demolished, she would stage protests. She pointed out that if Jagan had not changed the name of NTR University, the situation wouldn’t have escalated to this extent.
“If you had not changed NTR University’s name, YSR wouldn’t have been insulted today,” she wrote. She accused key YSRCP leaders, including Y. V. Subba Reddy, Vijayasai Reddy, and Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, of disrespecting YSR and his wife, Vijayamma.
Sharmila’s open critique of Jagan highlights the deep-seated rifts within the YSR family and the political implications of the YSRCP’s recent electoral defeat. Her statements reflect a broader dissatisfaction among some sections of the party’s supporters and leadership with Jagan’s approach and decisions.
The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), also known as the YSR Congress Party, is a regional political party in India, primarily operating in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The party is led by Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who has previously served as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. Currently, the YSRCP holds 4 seats in the Lok Sabha.
After the sudden death of the then-incumbent Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR), in a helicopter crash in September 2009, his son, Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who was the sitting MP from Kadapa, requested Sonia Gandhi to appoint him as the Chief Minister. However, the party denied his request.
To fulfill his promise to the people, Jagan initiated an “Odarpu Yatra” (condolence tour) across Andhra Pradesh, aiming to console the families of those who committed suicide or died of shock after his father’s death. The Congress leadership did not support this tour. Despite the Congress Working Committee’s order to call it off, Jagan proceeded with the first leg of the “Odarpu Yatra” in the West Godavari and Khammam districts in April 2010.
