AMARAVATI: Y S Sharmila, daughter of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy and sister of current Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has joined the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Sharmila took membership of the party in the presence of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.

Congress leaders have been repeatedly wheedling Sharmila to join the party from the last year. There were reports that Sharmila would attend the rally in Hyderabad in September, but that did not happen. With the Lok Sabha elections around the corner, state leaders are sure that Sharmila’s entry would give the upper hand to Congress in the state.

Sharmila is the founder of the YSR Telangana Party. The party started in July 2021 but doesn't have any elected representatives in the state. Meanwhile, there are reports that the Congress has offered Sharmila the AICC General Secretary post and Rajya Sabha membership.

At the event, Sharmila said it was her father's dream to see Rahul Gandhi become the PM of India and said she was happy to be part of the project.

The sibling rivalry between Sharmila and her CM brother is at the crescendo with both going in different directions. It all started after Jagmohan sidelined Sharmila from power which made the latter create another party paying obescience to her late father.

#WATCH | YSRTP chief & Andhra Pradesh CM's sister YS Sharmila joins Congress, in the presence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, in Delhi pic.twitter.com/SrAr4TIZTC

— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2024