Ever since there have been reports that Y S Sharmila, sister of Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, would launch a new political party in Telangana, there were sharp reactions from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi leaders and sympathisers in the state.
Senior TRS leaders like Gangula Kamalakar were quick to comment that no regional party would survive in Telangana, except the TRS and history had proved it.
“Such parties would have to wind up the show within no time,” he said.
The social media was also flooded with trolls against Sharmila.
“If your brother Jagan does any injustice to you, go and question him in Andhra. Why do you have to do in Telangana, sister?” a TRS sympathiser asked.
The TRS cadres also posted the pictures of Sharmila garlanded with footwear during the Telangana movement, for opposing the separate state of Telangana, apart from angry comments against her for deciding to launch a new party in the state.
However, sources said there were instructions from party leadership in Pragati Bhavan in the afternoon that no TRS leader or worker should comment on the party to be floated by Sharmila.
The party also reportedly asked the cadres to remove all their postings in the social media against Sharmila.
And by evening, the TRS social media wing has started deleting all the earlier posts made against Sharmila. This made one wonder why the TRS has decided against reacting on Sharmila’s party or making any comments against her.
Apparently, the TRS leadership is of the view that any negative comments against Sharmila might backfire on the party, as she is a woman and such comments amount to insulting a woman leader.
Moreover, the TRS has nothing to lose if Sharmila launches a new party, as there is no political space for it in the state. So, why should there be any panicky reaction from the TRS, asked a party leader.