Telangana Elections: YS Sharmila’s YSRTP withdraws from contest, to support Congress

Hyderabad: YSRTP has decided not to contest the Telangana assembly elections and instead support Congress.

"As we are all aware, Telangana is at a pivotal juncture with the State Assembly elections scheduled for the end of this month. The people of Telangana are eager to overturn the incumbent regime led by KCR, which they view as draconian. Over the past nine and a half years, the citizens have witnessed the depletion of Telangana's resources due to the avarice and tyranny of a single family. What was once a prosperous state at its formation is now burdened with substantial debt due to KCR's alleged corruption and the actions of his associates." YS Sharmila, YSRTP president, said.

Earlier, the party had also announced that YS Sharmila would contest from Palair in Khammam.

"With ongoing revelations of their corruption and mismanagement coming to light, it has become evident that like-minded parties must unite for the greater good of the people of Telangana. In support of this cause, the YSR Telangana Party has made a significant decision. To facilitate the impending defeat of the incumbent government, we believe that the Congress party has a viable opportunity, and any fragmentation of anti-incumbency votes at this stage would impede the removal of KCR from power," said Sharmila.

"According to numerous surveys and on-ground reports, it is apparent that our participation in the assembly elections would directly impact the Congress's vote share in many constituencies. Therefore, the YSR Telangana Party has chosen to forgo contesting in the Telangana Assembly elections. I am prepared to make this crucial decision to step back for the greater good of the state and to ensure the people's larger interests are addressed." she said clarifying.

On October 12, YSRTP announced that it would contest the Assembly elections. It was then speculated that her mother Vijayamma would also contest from the Secunderabad seat. Sharmila had decided after trying to negotiate a merger with the Congress.

YS Sharmila, the daughter of the late CM YS Rajasekhar Reddy of United Andhra Pradesh, entered politics immediately after her father's demise in Odarpu Yatra, a campaign where she met hundreds of people who were affected by YSR's accidental death. Although she didn't contest in elections, she campaigned for her brother YS Jagan along with her mother YS Vijayamma until the 2019 elections when her brother came to power.

Reportedly, she parted ways with her brother YS Jagan in 2019. It has been reported that she felt sidelined after the YSR Congress Party came to power. Her work was not recognized by the party. This led to differences, and YS Sharmila opted to join Telangana Politics and started YSR Telangana Party in 2021.

Within a year, her mother YS Vijayamma also joined her daughter's party after resigning from her son's YSRCP in Andhra. This entire family episode has been the talk of the town.

Gradually, YS Sharmila came to the limelight with her confrontations and counters against KCR in her 3500 km 'padayatra' in Telangana.