YS Sharmila, Jagan Mohan Reddy's sister, joins Congress ahead of Lok Sabha elections

Sharmila, 49, is no stranger to the world of politics. As the daughter of late YS Rajasekhara Reddy, the former chief minister of (undivided) Andhra Pradesh, and younger sister of current Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Sharmila is a familiar face in the Telugu states.

It was after the death of her father in a 2009 plane crash that her mother YS Vijayamma and brother Jagan Mohan Reddy stepped away from Congress to form YSR Congress.

Sharmila too followed suit and led the party when her brother was arrested and jailed in an illegal assets case for 16 months, in 2012. The same year, she also successfully carried out a 3,000 km walkathon. Starting on 18 October 2012 at Idupulapaya in Kadapa, the walkathon – spanning 14 districts –ended on 4 August 2013 in Ichchapuram. Additionally, she also actively campaigned for her brother during the 2019 Andhra Pradesh assembly election, which he went on to win.

An integral part of the YSR Congress until 2021, YS Sharmila started the Telangana YSR Telangana Party. While doing so she claimed that she wanted to focus on Telangana as her brother was doing great work in Andhra Pradesh. However, YS Sharmila and her party did not participate in the recent Telangana Legislative Assembly election, underscoring her support for the Congress party, which went on to win the elections.

YS Sharmila joining the Congress appears to be the final step in her recent show of support for the national party.

YS Sharmila has been married to Anil Kumar since 1995. The couple has two children, Raja Reddy and Anjili Reddy.