Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president Y S Sharmila, who was on Tuesday announced as the party candidate for Kadapa Lok Sabha seat in the coming elections, sought to disassociate herself from her own brother – YSR Congress party president and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
After paying tributes to her father late Y S Rajasekhar Reddy at his samadhi at Idupulapaya estate in Kadapa district, Sharmila told reporters that Jagan ceased to be her brother after becoming the chief minister of the state.
“He was my brother and I never had any animosity towards him. But he was a changed man after becoming the chief minister. I don’t know who this Jagan Mohan Reddy now is. He encouraged murder politics in the state and gave the party ticket to Avinash Reddy, who was accused in the murder of Vivekananda Reddy,” she said.
Sharmila said it was not an easy decision for her to contest from Kadapa, as she was aware it would create a split within her family and confusion among the followers of her father late YSR. “But I was compelled to take a decision, as Jagan Mohan Reddy himself was responsible for the rift within the family,” she said.
She said the culprits and conspirators in the murder of Viveka were moving freely in the district without any punishment despite having all the evidence against them, only because Jagan is shielding them. “It took me a lot of time to realise that Jagan had used the murder of Vivekananda Reddy for his political gains. I could not tolerate Jagan giving the party ticket to Avinash Reddy from Kadapa,” she said.
The PCC chief recalled that Vivekananda Reddy’s last wish was to see her as an MP from Kadapa. “I did not take it seriously then, but now I understand why he wanted me to become an MP. I have now decided to contest the elections only to prevent a murder accused from becoming an MP again,” she added.
