It has been quite some time one has heard about Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president Y S Sharmila has taken up any active party programmes to strengthen the party, let alone bringing back its past glory.
Even as her brother and YSR Congress party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has begun intensifying his fight against the ruling Telugu Desam Party-led coalition to bring his party back to power in the state, Sharmila is struggling to establish her identity as a leader.
The Congress leadership had appointed Sharmila as APCC chief with the objective of positioning her as a key figure against Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Her campaign during the 2023 elections, largely focused on targeting Jagan, had created an impact.
However, even within Congress, there have been criticisms that Sharmila concentrated solely on attacking the YSRCP while remaining indifferent toward the NDA alliance.
Apparently realising that she might soon fade out from the politics if she doesn’t activate her party, Sharmila has decided to be in the news with some programme or the other.
As part of her plan, Sharmila met senior Congress leader and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Tuesday.
According to sources, Sharmila placed an important proposal before Rahul, which he has agreed to support.
During her meeting with Rahul Gandhi, Sharmila discussed the current political situation in Andhra Pradesh and urged him to launch a movement from the state demanding the revival and strengthening of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). She also requested Rahul to attend the programme as the chief guest.
Sharmila reminded Rahul Gandhi that February 2 marks 20 years since the employment guarantee scheme was introduced.
With the Centre recently taking decisions related to the scheme that Congress strongly opposes, the party is preparing for protests and renewed mobilisation.
Following the meeting, Sharmila stated that Rahul Gandhi had assured her that he would visit Andhra Pradesh and actively participate in the party’s agitation.
She said the movement would be launched from Bandlapalli village in Anantapur district, where the scheme was formally inaugurated during the tenure of late chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.
Political observers note that the initiative carries symbolic significance, as Sharmila is attempting to revive a programme associated with her father’s legacy.
With both the NDA in power at the Centre and in the state, Rahul Gandhi’s decision to launch a major movement from Andhra Pradesh is expected to have wider political implications in the coming days.