'Decision to contest from Kadapa will tear apart my family, but I have no choice': YS Sharmila

VIJAYAWADA: The Congress has fielded Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president YS Sharmila Reddy from the Kadapa Parliament seat, which is a bastion of the Reddy family. The seat is currently represented by Sharmila’s cousin Avinash Reddy from the YSRCP.

Other Congress leaders from the State featuring in the list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections released by the party on Tuesday include former Union Minister MM Pallam Raju from Kakinada, special invitee to Congress Working Committee G Rudra Raju from Rajahmundry, AICC secretary JD Seelam from Bapatla and PG Rampulliah Yadav from the Kurnool seat.

Sharmila, sister of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, joined the grand old party in January this year and was appointed president of the party in the State.

The Kadapa seat will grab eyeballs in the coming days as it would be an intense battle within the YSR family. While Sharmila will take on her cousin Avinash Reddy for the Lok Sabha seat, her brother YS Jagan would be contesting from Pulivendula which one of the seven Assembly constituencies under the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat. The Kadapa seat has been held by the YSR family since 1989.

Speaking to media in Idupulapaya after being nominated for the seat, Sharmila said, “As YS Rajasekhar Reddy's daughter, I will be contesting from Kadapa. This decision was not easy for me as it will tear my family apart but I had no choice.

"I do not hate my brother and he is my blood. But he backed those who killed Vivekananda Reddy by encouraging the politics of murder. Despite clear evidence, they have not been punished yet and I could not bear it when Avinash Reddy was given ticket once again from Kadapa. That is why I am contesting from Kadapa,” Sharmila said.