“Sibling Rivalry”: Congress hopes to dent Jagan with Sharmila’s return since they have nothing to lose in Andhra

Midway through 2010, YS Vijayalakshmi, also referred to as Vijayamma, who was the widow of the late Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, and her daughter YS Sharmila arrived in New Delhi from Hyderabad. They went straight to 10, Janpath, which was then Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s official address. They felt tight. Given the intimate relationship that Dr. YSR had with both her and the late Rajiv Gandhi, they were anticipating a warm reception at her home. However, as soon as they stepped inside the colonial-era home that Sonia Gandhi occupied, their dreams were dashed.

They had to wait for ten to fifteen minutes at first. Upon being led into the drawing room, Sonia greeted them with a chilly expression on her face.

Following the devastating news of his father’s death in a helicopter accident in September 2009, Jagan Mohan Reddy began a trip around Andhra Pradesh, visiting the houses of those who had passed away. Sonia Gandhi urged him to stop the trip when he was in the thick of it.

To no effect, a shocked mother attempted to explain the rationale behind the “Odarpu” Yatra. Sonia became upset and urged her to stop, getting up from her chair. The mother and daughter, feeling ashamed and shocked, discreetly left the home of the Congress president at the time and headed back to Hyderabad.

But they vowed to get even. The Reddys don’t stop until they realize that they have vowed to get retribution on someone, as they say in Rayalaseema. In the process, they either ruin themselves or exact revenge. Maybe Sonia Gandhi didn’t know that.

Jagan was furious to hear the news. He made it clear to his close friends and family that he intended to leave the Congress in order to start his own political party. He roared that he would smash the Congress in Andhra Pradesh to send a message to the cold and ungrateful Gandhi family.

Jagan hoped to succeed his father after his death. Or he was considering running for state Congress president, at the very least. However, Rahul Gandhi’s entourage and Sonia encouraged them not to host him. K Rosaiah, an elderly family loyalist with little broad support, was named the state’s new chief minister by the Gandhis. But the MLAs, the cabinet, and the whole party local unit were members of the YSR family.

Since then, Jagan has totally crushed the Congress in Andhra Pradesh, turning the state into a contest between the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) after the establishment of Telangana. He will now put his popularity to the test in his role as Andhra Pradesh’s chief minister, when the state is anticipated to hold elections in conjunction with the parliamentary elections in April or May.

The Congress, which has been completely destroyed, is seeing an opportunity to bounce back after its stunning victory in neighboring Telangana in December.

Sharmila is supporting Sonia Gandhi, who she says has betrayed her by refusing to share power and their father’s legacy, after first treating her with frigid respect.

The AICC is aware that the YSRCP is nothing more than the Congress of the past, and that the party would never rise again in the AP until it is dented or destroyed. The party officials believe they can at least start out fairly by taking advantage of the tense connection between the brother and sister.

Sharmila has had many meetings with the Gandhis in the last six months, and her choice to abstain from the Telangana assembly elections enabled the Congress to defeat the formidable KCR. Insiders claim that the Gandhis have offered her membership in the Rajya Sabha as well as the position of president of the Andhra state unit.

Although it’s unclear whether Sharmila would accept the offer to challenge her brother, she might split the YSRCP and inspire the cadres if she decides to join the Congress or rejoin her late father’s party.

The Congress is also aware that Nara Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP stands to benefit at its expense and that Jagan is its principal adversary. The Congress is not even close to guaranteeing its deposit in certain assembly seats unless it severely damages the YSRCP, maybe even allowing TDP to emerge victorious. As Dr. YSR remains very popular in Andhra Pradesh, Sharmila may be able to incite emotions by portraying herself as the victim. According to reports, Jagan is nervous after KCR’s unexpected setback, and the Congress wants to throw Sharmila at him.

With Sharmila heading a motley Congress in the AP, no one is anticipating a speedy reversal, but her return might alter public opinion of the party, which most people detest for separating the state in the run-up to the 2014 general elections.

The Congress may still aspire to participate in the polls in the future if Sharmila is able to wean away a sizable number of votes and supporters, even if she is unable to deliver seats.

Whether Operation Sharmila succeeds or fails, the Congress, which has lost its deposit in every assembly and Lok Sabha seat in Andhra since 2014, has nothing to lose.

Sharmila and the Gandhis are aware of this. They also understand that people’s recall is limited.