Congress picks YS Sharmila, sister of Jagan Reddy, to lead party in Andhra Pradesh

Congress on January 16 appointed YS Sharmila, the sister of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, as the party's Andhra Pradesh unit president, paving the way for a brother-sister duel in the upcoming simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly polls in the state.

Sharmila replaces previous state Congress chief Rudra Raju, who resigned on January 15.

“Congress president has appointed Y S Sharmila Reddy as the president of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee with immediate effect,” an official announcement by the party said.

“Congress president has also appointed Shri Gidugu Rudra Raju, the outgoing PCC president as special invitee to the Congress Working Committee. The party appreciates the contributions of Gidugu Rudra Raju, in his role as PCC president,” the Congress said.

The 50-year-old politician joined the Congress this month, merging her YSR Telangana Party ahead of the all-important Lok Sabha and state assembly elections.

After joining, she lauded the Congress for being the largest and “most secular” party in the country, saying that it unwaveringly serves all communities and unites all sections of people.

“Today, I am very happy to be merging the YSR Telangana party into the Congress Party. It gives me immense joy that the YSR Telangana party is going to be a part of the Indian National Congress from today onwards. That YSR Telangana party is not going to be separate any more from the Congress party gives me great delight,” she had said after joining the Congress.

Sharmila floated her own party after parting ways with her brother in July 2021 over alleged differences on many issues.