Senior YSR Congress party leader and former Andhra Pradesh home minister Mekathoti Sucharita has taken a crucial decision, to quit active politics altogether, not just YSRCP, at least for now.
She disclosed this to party president and former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, in a recent meeting. She told him that she had taken a decision to bid farewell to politics, creating a stir in politics.
She cited health reasons for her decision and expressed her inability to continue in active politics.
Jagan reportedly suggested she take some time before making a final decision, but Sucharita explained her personal challenges. She wants to keep away from politics at least for the time being.
For some time now, there have been speculations that Sucharita is leaving the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). These rumors began during the election period.
In the recent elections, she chose to contest from Tadikonda instead of her home constituency, Prathipadu, but lost.
Subsequently, she did not participate in events attended by Jagan Mohan Reddy in Guntur.
After her electoral defeat, several key leaders left the party, and now Sucharita has decided to step back as well.
There were speculations that Sucharita might join the Jana Sena Party, and that she was in talks with Jana Sena leaders.
However, she clarified that she is not interested in remaining in politics. She said she has no intention of joining any other party.
She has formally announced her retirement from politics and suggested to Jagan that responsibilities in Tadikonda be handed over to another leader.
Sucharita first became an MLA from Prathipadu in 2009. In 2012, she resigned in support of Jagan Mohan Reddy and won the subsequent by-election. However, she lost in 2014.
In 2019, when the YSRCP came to power, Jagan appointed her as Home Minister.
Later, during the cabinet reshuffle, she lost her ministerial position and distanced herself from party activities.
Although she initially declared her commitment to the party after meeting Jagan, things changed closer to the 2024 elections. She contested from Tadikonda instead of Prathipadu upon her request but faced defeat.