YS Sharmila to float new party in Telangana

YS Sharmila,sister of Andhra Pradesh chief ministerYS Jagan Mohan Reddy, has decided to start her political carrier in Telengana. Sharmila has announced in Hyderabad, that she will launch her political party in Telangana on July 8, her father's birth anniversary. She will also unveil the flag and the agenda of her party on the same day. Ms Sharmila's move was endorsed by her mother YS Vijayalakshmi, who said she was happy her daughter had chosen to serve the people of Telangana. She added that her daughter had the same guts as her father.

Addressing a rally in Khammam, Sharmila said it was on this day (April 8) in 2003 when YSR launched his 1600-kilometre-long historic padayatra (foot march) from the Telangana town of Chevella. “After 18 years, I have taken my first step in the direction of heralding a welfare state to fulfil the dreams of my father and I strive to re-establish his golden rule,” she said. Sharmila said she was compelled to launch a political party to fight for the aspirations of the people of Telangana, which remained unfulfilled even seven years after the formation of the state. She also clarified that she had not come at the behest of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), BJP or Congress but would be an arrow that would target all three parties on behalf of the people.

"I will not allow even one drop of water that should come to Telangana go to another state," she said. Water has been a contentious issue between the Telangana and Andhra regions of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh. Assembly elections are due in Telangana in 2023.