The appointment of Y.S. Sharmila as the president of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has injected a new dimension of sibling rivalry into the political landscape of the state. Tasked with reviving the fortunes of the Congress in Andhra Pradesh, Sharmila finds herself in a unique position, pitted against her brother, Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, whom she ardently campaigned for in the 2019 elections.
The Congress leadership hopes that Sharmila, daughter of the late Congress leader Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, can connect with the people and attract supporters from the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). However, her entry into the Congress anti-Jagan camp has sparked debates about her claim to the ‘YSR legacy’ and questions about her silence on various issues in the state. The political landscape in Andhra Pradesh is set for a significant shift with Sharmila’s foray into the Congress party, challenging her brother’s dominance in state politics.