Schemes crippling the poor: Sharmila

In a move similar to her father’s political legacy, YS Sharmila, the newly appointed leader of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), has launched a scathing attack on the ruling Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) regime. Drawing from the playbook of the late YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Sharmila has emerged as a vocal critic, highlighting what she perceives as the failures of the current administration.
Central to Sharmila’s criticism is the alleged discrepancies in welfare schemes, which she claims are exploiting the poor rather than empowering them.
She pointed to instances where the benefits intended for the needy are overshadowed by heavy taxation burdens, compounded by the implementation of GST on essential goods, leading to an unbearable financial strain on citizens.
Further adding to the burden, Sharmila denounced the surge in electricity charges, attributing it to Adani’s coal procurement practices, along with the escalating costs of fuel, cooking gas, and even liquor. These mounting expenses, she argued, are squeezing the average citizen’s budget to breaking point.
In response to these challenges, Sharmila is rallying support for scrutiny of welfare programmes and promises a renewed focus on securing special status for Andhra Pradesh if the INDIA alliance, comprising Congress, CPM, and CPI, gains power at the Centre. She has emphasised that it’s the Congress party that delivers on its promises to the people. Meanwhile, the Left’s campaign is gaining momentum as it accuses the NDA government of neglecting Visakhapatnam and colluding with ruling parties. The Left has advocated for the protection of vital assets like the steel plant and expressed concern over the loss of control of key infrastructure projects to private entities.
Sharmila’s leadership has breathed new life into the Congress party, urging a departure from alliances tethering the State to the BJP’s agenda. With a united front, she aims to bolster the influence of the INDIA alliance, posing a significant threat to the NDA’s dominance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sensing this threat, attempts to downplay the Opposition’s resurgence. With the election unfolding, all eyes are on Andhra Pradesh as the possibility of a significant shake-up looms large.