YS Sharmila to contest from Kadapa Lok Sabha seat

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president YS Sharmila will contest the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat in the upcoming elections. Sharmila would take on her cousin YS Avinash Reddy of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and one of the accused in the murder case of his uncle and former minister YS Vivekananda Reddy.

Sharmila’s name was announced in the party’s 11th list approved by All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikharjuna Kharge. In the Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting held in New Delhi on Monday, the party leadership finalised and announced the names of 114 Assembly and five Lok Sabha candidates on Tuesday.

Former APCC chief Gidugu Rudraraju would contest from Rajahmundry, senior leader and former union minister JD Seelam from Bapatla, former education minister MM Pallam Raju from Kakinada and PG Rampullaiah Yadav from Kurnool Parliamentary constituencies. The Communist Party of India (CPI), Congress and CPI (M) are INDIA alliance partners in Andhra Pradesh. Elections for the 175-member Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh are scheduled on May 13 and the counting of votes is slated for June 4. Here are the 114 candidates for the Assembly constituencies in the state.

Speaking to media after offering tributes to her father and former chief minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy (late) at his memorial in Idupulapaya, Sharmila said this was not an easy decision as she was aware it would lead to a split in her family.

"I am contesting as a candidate from Kadapa. YSR's (Y S Rajasekhar Reddy) daughter is contesting. This is not an easy decision for me as I know that it will split my family," she said, addressing a press conference in Idupulupaya in Kadapa district after participating in a prayer meeting at her father's grave.

She observed that her decision will also throw YSR's fans into confusion but had to take this decision due to some "unavoidable circumstances".

Asserting she had "no hatred" towards her brother, YSRCP chief and Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, Sharmila said he was a changed man after becoming Chief Minister.

The APCC president alleged Jagan Mohan Reddy "encouraged murderous politics" and said, "He gave the ticket to contest from Kadapa LS seat to people who murdered Y S Vivekananda Reddy and I could not tolerate it."

"There is no punishment for people who committed the murder and culprits are freely roaming around evading law," she alleged.

"Despite evidence in the case, Jagan Mohan Reddy is protecting the accused persons using his political power and backing Avinash Reddy," she alleged.

Further, she said her father had won 10 elections as a Congress leader and claimed he had dreamed of seeing Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Minister.

And to fulfil that dream, Sharmila claimed that she has joined Congress and all are ready to work for the victory of the party.