Kharge Appoints Jagan Reddy's Sister YS Sharmila As Andhra Pradesh Congress President, 12 Days After Joining Party

Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge appointed the new joinee YS Sharmila as the president of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) on Tuesday (16 January).

The letter released by Congress organisation secretary KC Venugopal further tells about the appointment of the outgoing Andhra PCC chief Gidugu Rudra Raju as a special invitee to the Congress Working Committee.

The appointment comes a mere 12 days after Sharmila joined Congress. Hence, to avoid any disgruntlement among the long-time members, the appointment letter appreciates the contributions of Rudra Raju in his role as PCC chief.

Sharmila is the sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and daughter of the late AP CM YS Rajasekhara Reddy. While joining Congress, she announced the merger of her party YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP).

As reported earlier, she joined the Congress after unsuccessful negotiations between Sharmila and her uncle, former YSRCP MP YV Subba Reddy. Reportedly, Jagan Mohan Reddy had dispatched Subba Reddy as an emissary to convince Sharmila to join YSRCP.

The political divergence between the brother-sister duo began in July 2021 when Sharmila launched her political outfit in Telangana. However, the differences between Jagan and Sharmila emerged much earlier when their father died in 2009.

With Sharmila as the PCC chief, the stage is set for a potential electoral contest between siblings in the upcoming simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh.