Sharmila, who is set to take over as the president of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee on January 21, is reportedly gearing up to make her mark on the party right from day one.
Assuming the charge of the party chief at a time when the state is rapidly approaching assembly and Lok Sabha elections, Sharmila does not have much time to prove herself as a leader.
She understands that if she cannot bring about any significant improvement in the Congress party's prospects in Andhra Pradesh, at least by ensuring an increase in the vote share, if not winning any seats, it will be the end of the road for her political career; and nobody would take her seriously thereafter.
So, Sharmila wants to connect with the people immediately after taking over as the APCC chief. Two days before that, she is holding a meeting with senior leaders of the Congress party and followers of YSR in Andhra Pradesh to discuss her course of action.
Soon after assuming the charge, Sharmila would announce her plan of action. She is expected to use her same old card – going directly to the people.
However, she might not undertake any padayatra, as there is no time for her; she might organize a bus yatra and travel across the length and breadth of the state.
Sharmila would also declare her party’s agenda in the upcoming elections – such as special category status to AP, completion of the Polavaram project, construction of the capital city at Amaravati, stopping the privatization of the Visakhapatnam steel plant, and the development of the railway zone for Visakhapatnam.
However, one wonders whether Sharmila will have the freedom to implement her plan of action, because in the Congress party, one has to seek permission from the high command for every step.
Maybe she might have already discussed her plan with the high command and obtained approval. Sources said the party asked her to focus on Rayalaseema and the twin Godavari districts, where the party has some chances of recovery.
