Picture : ANI / X
In a big move in Andhra Pradesh politics Y S Sharmila, the daughter of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and founder of YSR Telangana Party, joined the Congress.
She also announced the merger of her YSR Telangana Congress with the Congress, and said she would fulfil any responsibility given to her.
Sharmila joined the Congress in the presence of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and former party president Rahul Gandhi. Lauding the Congress, she said it is the largest and “most secular” party in the country as it unwaveringly serves all communities and unites all sections of people.
#WATCH | YSRTP chief & Andhra Pradesh CM’s sister YS Sharmila joins Congress, in the presence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, in Delhi pic.twitter.com/SrAr4TIZTC
— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2024
“I am very happy to be merging the YSR Telangana party with the Congress. It gives me immense joy that the YSR Telangana party is going to be a part of the Indian National Congress from today onwards,” she said.
Describing her father and former chief minister YSR Reddy as a legendary leader of the Telugu people, she said he not only served the Congress all his life, but also gave his life serving the Congress.
“Today, it would give him great joy that his daughter is following in his footsteps and is going to be a part of the Congress itself,” she said.
“The Congress is still the largest secular party of our country. The Congress has always upheld the true culture of India. The Congress has built our nation’s foundations. The Congress has unwaveringly served all communities, uniting all sections of the people of India,” Sharmila said in the presence of top party leadership.
Delhi | YS Sharmila meets Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi after she merges YSR Telangana Party with Congress pic.twitter.com/hHOMjMNYhL
— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2024
“I truly honour the Congress because it is the most secular party, the largest secular party of the country,” she said. She said Rahul Gandhi has won the confidence of the people with his Bharat Jodo Yatra and that also led to the party’s victory in Karnataka.
Sharmila said she was happy that she was part of the Congress victory in Telangana. She had announced her support to the Congress during the recent assembly polls in Telangana to end the alleged corrupt and anti-people rule of the BRS led by K Chandrasekhar Rao.
