YS Sharmila, the chief of YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP), visited the residence of Sonia Gandhi, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson, in the national capital on Thursday. Sharmila, sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, recently merged YSRTP with the Congress in the presence of Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters.
Addressing supporters after the merger, Sharmila expressed her joy, stating, “Today, I’m very happy to be merging YSRTP 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.” She highlighted Congress as the largest secular party in India, praising its role in upholding the true culture of the country and building the nation’s foundation.
Sharmila’s husband, Anil Kumar, emphasized their desire to become part of the Congress family, with Sharmila pledging to abide by the party’s decisions. The merger is expected to impact Andhra Pradesh politics, and Sharmila is anticipated to be given a significant role in Congress, both in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and the Andhra Pradesh state assembly elections.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge convened a meeting with party general secretaries, state unit chiefs, and Congress Legislature Party leaders at the party headquarters on the same day. The move signals strategic planning and coordination within the Congress leadership ahead of crucial political events.
