TDP & YSRCP not serious about special status for AP: Sharmila

In a blistering attack against both the ruling YSRCP and the opposition TDP, APCC president Y S Sharmila has asserted that these political entities are closely collaborating with the BJP. Sharmila alleged that casting votes for either the YSRCP or the TDP is equivalent to supporting the BJP. “Voting for the YSRCP or the TDP is essentially voting for the BJP,” she declared.
Taking on her role as APCC president at a ceremony held in a private function hall on the city outskirts, Sharmila addressed Congress activists and sharply criticised the YSRCP and TDP for their alleged failure in pressuring the Centre for Special Category Status (SCS).
“The leaders of YSRCP and TDP are aligning themselves with the BJP and have submitted to its influence. Despite the state having 25 Lok Sabha members and six Rajya Sabha members, they have never raised the demand for SCS in the Parliament,” she admonished.
Sharmila accused both the YSRCP and the TDP of compromising the interests of Andhra Pradesh for their political gains. She strongly condemned the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSRCP regime, alleging that the state is plagued by the sand mafia, liquor mafia, and mining mafia. She criticised the regime for what she described as a policy of “plunder and stash the money.”
Continuing her criticism of Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, Sharmila lamented that the government is unable to pay employees’ salaries and repair damaged roads due to a lack of funds. She pointed out the absence of major industries and the non-granting of a metro rail project in the last decade.
Regarding the state’s debt, Sharmila claimed that when Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated, it had only Rs 1 lakh crore in debt. She alleged that the debt rose to Rs 2 lakh crore during the tenure of former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and further escalated to Rs 3 lakh crore under the current Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. Including corporation debts, she claimed that the state now has over Rs 10 lakh crore in debts, questioning the government on the utilization of borrowed funds.
In a personal attack against her brother Jagan Mohan Reddy, Sharmila criticised him for not responding to the burning of 2000 churches and the displacement of 60,000 Christians in Manipur state.
She also criticised former chief minister Naidu for presenting the capital city Amaravati only in 3D graphics. Sharmila expressed regret over the current lack of a capital city in Andhra Pradesh due to Jagan Reddy’s introduction of the concept of three capital cities. Notably, she did not mention the name of JSP chief K Pawan Kalyan in her impassioned speech.
Sharmila asserted that Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and AICC President Maallikharjun Kharge have entrusted her with the responsibility of strengthening the Congress in Andhra Pradesh.
In a significant development, Mangalagiri YSRCP MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy and his followers joined the Congress in the presence of YS Sharmila.Y S Sharmila
Prominent Congress leaders, including outgoing APCC president Gidugu Rudraraju, former APCC presidents N Raghuveera Reddy and S Sailajanath, former Union minister Pallam Raju, and AICC secretary MD Meyyappan, were also present at the event.