Throughout the election campaign in Andhra Pradesh over the last two months, Pradesh Congress Committee president Y. S. Sharmila made sharp attacks on her brother, YSR Congress Party president and chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Sharmila, who contested the Lok Sabha elections from the Kadapa parliamentary constituency, made pointed comments against her brother, accusing him of shielding the accused in the Vivekananda Reddy murder case.
She even made personal remarks against Jagan, accusing him of causing a split in the family.
Her diatribe against her brother continued until May 11, when the election campaign ended. After the polling on May 13, Jagan left for the UK with his family on a holiday, while Sharmila went to the US to join her mother, Vijayamma, and son, Raja Reddy, to spend some time.
Just as everyone was feeling relieved from this sibling rivalry, Sharmila was back on her social media platform, X, on Friday, making sharp comments against Jagan.
Attaching a newspaper clipping about a report on the alleged rape of a minor girl by her senior in a government school in Eluru district, filmed by four other men, Sharmila blamed the incident on the failure of Jagan's government.
“Mr. Chief Minister, you always talk about 'my sisters, my mothers, my grandmothers,' shout in front of microphones at high pitch about the safety of women, shed crocodile tears, and display fake love! See, the whole country is now talking about the suffering of women and lack of safety for them under your rule in our state. Walking through the streets of London, you will not hear the screams and cries. The state doesn’t get top ranks in what it should have got. People are observing you, your women ministers, and leaders to know whether you bow your heads in shame and remain silent shamelessly,” she tweeted.
Within minutes of tweeting the post, Sharmila faced heavy trolling from netizens.
“Oh, sacred woman. Thank you, amma. The police are now under the control of the Election Commission. If you are so angry with Jagan, go to his residence and cry aloud. It’s Jagan’s misfortune that he has a sister like you,” a follower said.
“Why have you taken up a new tune after singing your uncle (Viveka) song? Have you realized that you won’t even get a deposit in the elections?” asked another.
“We have had enough of you as a sister. Now, you have to face our bashing,” another netizen said.
“Sharmila, yours is not an ordinary wailing. That is why Jagan has kept you at bay,” commented another.
“Next, there are elections in Tamil Nadu. You better go there and float a party. Some people are born to damage the image of the state. You are a classic example,” said another netizen.
One more follower of her tweet asked Sharmila to shut up.
“Better keep your mouth shut. Don’t go too far. We are surprised how you were born to our YSR? Chi.. chi..”
A woman follower asked Sharmila what she was doing when such rapes were happening in the state.
“You also claim to be a brave woman, holding a big position in a party. Instead of blaming others, why don’t you do something?” she asked.
Another YSRCP follower tweeted: “What happened to your love for females when #Geetanjali committed suicide because of TDP’s brutal trolling? You don’t have any right to question now since you did not respond to the #Geetanjali issue. Go and ask for more packages from @ncbn.”