Sharmila From Kadapa: Congress’s Checkmate To Jagan?

The Andhra Pradesh Congress Political Affairs Committee meeting started in Vijayawada on Thursday and will go on for the next two days. In the backdrop of Congress winning Telangana, the party is hoping for a revival in AP as well.

AICC observers are also present in the meeting.

The meeting decided to have public meetings by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in various parts of the state on crucial issues like the Polavaram Project and Special Status.

There was a proposal to field YS Sharmila from the Kadapa Parliament. So, the party will strengthen in Andhra Pradesh, particularly in the Kadapa district.

There was a proposal to merge Sharmila’s YSR Telangana Party into Congress but that did not happen. Just before the elections, she extended unilateral support to Congress by withdrawing from the elections.

Sharmila did not campaign for the party. Since the start, Congress leaders believed that Sharmila would be more handy in Andhra Pradesh than Telangana due to the YSR factor.

Also, she can dent the YSR Congress. Congress high command is upset with Jagan Mohan Reddy for decimating their party in Andhra Pradesh and also for his secret understanding with the BJP.

So if they can convince Sharmila to go to Andhra, it will be helpful for Congress. If Sharmila can divide votes in Kadapa, YSR Congress’s bastion can be breached and the party will automatically weaken in Rayalaseema.