YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy made a desperate attempt to convince his sister Y S Sharmila to drop her plans to launch a new political party in Telangana, but she did not heed to his appeal.
This was disclosed by none other than Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, senior YSRC leader and advisor to the Andhra Pradesh government, a close confidant of YSR family, while speaking to media in Amaravati.
He said it would be misleading to say that they were not aware of Sharmila’s plans.
“We are very much in know of things. The discussions had been going on for the last three months. Jagan tried to convince her to withdraw her plans to launch the party in the best interest of the YSRC and also in view of the relations with Telangana,” he said.
Sajjala said Sharmila might have thought there was a necessity for a party like YSRC in Telangana as well.
“Now that she has taken a plunge into the action, she has to face the consequences, whether good or bad,” he said.
He pointed out that the YSRC, despite having huge following for late Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, could get only six per cent vote share in 2014 elections in Telangana. In the next elections, the party did not contest at all and was confined to Andhra Pradesh, he said.
Sajjala rubbished the rumours that there were differences between Jagan and his sister.
“You may call them difference of opinions, but there are no differences. We are all fond of Sharmila, as the daughter of YSR,” he said.
He reminded that Sharmila had been given due recognition in the YSRC.
“It was because of the party that she had taken up the padayatra when Jagan was in jail. If Jagan had given her any posts in the party, it would have led to the criticism that he was encouraging family rule,” he said.