Fight for YSR legacy as sister takes on Jagan's party in Andhra Pradesh

TIRUPATI: Sibling rivalry in the YSR clan spiced up the battle for the family bastion of Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday as chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's sister YS Sharmila emerged as a claimant to their late father's legacy by announcing she would contest the Lok Sabha seat against her cousin and sitting MP YS Avinash Reddy.

Sharmila, the state Congress chief, fired the first salvo in the poll fight by accusing her brother of promoting "murder politics". Jagan represents the Pulivendula assembly segment, which is part of Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency. The seat has been a stronghold of the YSR family since 1989.

In this election, Kadapa will witness a triangular contest involving YSRCP, Congress and TDP.

Accompanied by her mother and several Congress functionaries, Sharmila visited a memorial to her father before announcing her candidature. She spoke of her dilemma while deciding to contest the Kadapa seat, knowing it could divide her family and confuse YSR's followers.

"My father dedicated his life to Congress and the people of Andhra Pradesh, earning a special place in their hearts by launching various welfare schemes," Sharmila said.

She urged people to support her in upholding her father's ideals and bringing justice to the family of YS Vivekananda Reddy, her paternal uncle. The former minister was found murdered in his bedroom before the 2019 general elections. CBI has been probing the murder for five years.

"When Viveka was murdered, his death was first rumoured to be due to a heart attack. But when YSRCP came to govt, and it became clearer that Kadapa MP Avinash Reddy was involved in the heinous murder, Jagan not only tried to shield him but has now gone to the extent of fielding him again in Kadapa," Sharmila said.

Avinash Reddy said Sharmila's allegations were part of a "larger political conspiracy" against him and his family. "As an elected representative answerable to the public, I will clarify every single allegation levelled against me and remove doubts planted in the minds of the people by TDP and Congress."

After snapping ties with Congress and floating YSRCP in 2011, Jagan had been the first to stake claim to YSR's legacy among the two siblings. Sharmila supported him until he became chief minister in 2019. She then surprised everyone by floating her party, YSRTP, in Telangana in 2021.

In a dramatic turn of events before the Telangana assembly elections, Sharmila decided not to contest any seat, which apparently helped Congress win the polls and form the govt there. She merged YSRTP with the Grand Old Party soon after and became PCC chief in January.