The popular support for any political party or a political leader will be known only in the electoral battle.
If the party contests the elections, its real strength is revealed and it gives an indication as to whether the party can get the people’s mandate in the subsequent elections.
But YSR Telangana party, the new regional party floated by Y S Sharmila, daughter of former chief minister of combined Andhra Pradesh Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, is not going to contest the forthcoming by-elections to Huzurabad assembly seat.
This was hinted at by none other than Sharmila herself at a press conference on Friday. She said the by-elections to Huzurabad assembly seat were totally unwarranted and unnecessary.
“The by-elections in Huzurabad are being held only due to vengeance and revenge politics indulged in by two individuals. Why should we be part of this vengeance politics and contest the elections?” Sharmila asked.
She said the outcome of the elections was totally insignificant and nothing would happen if somebody wins or loses.
“If the parties fight the elections based on the plank of creating employment opportunities to the youth, then, we are also ready to contest,” she said.
Interestingly, Sharmila made a positive comment on her brother Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s government in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
“It has been two years since Jagan came to power and it appears he is striving for the establishment of Rajanna Rajyam there. Otherwise, people will reject his party,” she said.
She said the Congress party had no moral right to own late YSR.
“Some Congress leaders are shamelessly boasting that YSR had become the chief minister because of the Congress party. But the fact was that it was YSR who had brought the Congress to power by undertaking marathon padayatra. The Congress only backstabbed YSR,” she said.
Sharmila asserted that YSR was never against Telangana and had not done any injustice to the region.
“You go and ask the people in the villages. They will whether they were benefitted or betrayed by YSR. The people whom YSR had loved so much are being meted out injustice after the formation of Telangana,” she said.