Why AP CM Jagan needs to be wary of reports of YSRTP-Congress merger in Telangana?

HYDERABAD: Will YSRTP chief YS Sharmila and her mother Vijayamma be incited by the Congress to work against their own kith and kin to target Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy? That is the big question doing the rounds in political circles as it almost looks certain that Sharmila will merge YSRTP with the Grand Old Party.

According to sources in Telangana Congress, All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary KC Venugopal spoke to Sharmila's husband Anil Kumar this week to work out a strategy. Buzz is that former AICC President Sonia Gandhi is likely to speak to Sharmila and Vijayamma this week to speak about the nitty-gritties of their amalgamation. Post this, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are expected to travel to Idupulapaya on July 8 to pay homage to Sharmila’s father and former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) to formally announce the merger.

While the merger, on paper, is to chalk out a strategy for elections in Telangana, there is more to this than meets the eye, The Congress party's strategy seems to be focused on targeting the sister Telugu state of Andhra Pradesh too and more importantly its Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. The visit to Idupulapaya is symbolic as one of the last wishes of YSR was to see Rahul Gandhi become the Prime Minister of India. While the merger itself may seem like a strategic move by Sharmila to fulfill her father's wish, it could indeed pose significant challenges for YS Jagan.

One of the primary concerns stems from the historical animosity between Jagan and the Congress party. It was the Congress that initiated the investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the Disproportionate Assets case against Jagan. The case has remained a contentious issue, with Jagan constantly claiming that it is politically motivated. If Sharmila merges her party with the Congress, there is a valid concern that she and her mother, YS Vijayamma, could be coerced or encouraged to depose against Jagan. This could create significant internal fissures within the Yeduguri Sandinti family. Such a development could prove to be a big political ammunition for the principal opposition party in Andhra Pradesh, the TDP, a few months ahead of elections.

TDP’s stakes in YSRTP-Congress merger

The proximity between the TDP and the Congress is well-known. Ahead of the 2019 elections, TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu did the unthinkable by forming a “Maha Kootami” (grand alliance) with the Congress as part of it. With Chandrababu Naidu's ‘disciple’ Revanth Reddy heading the Telangana Congress, there is speculation that he might utilise Sharmila as a political tool to work against Jagan in Andhra Pradesh. This strategy seems to mirror the recent alleged instigation of Dr. Sunitha Reddy, who spoke against her own family and Jagan in the YS Vivekananda Reddy murder case, purportedly under the influence of the TDP. If the TDP employs a similar playbook, it could exacerbate the existing political rivalry and further complicate matters for Jagan and the YSRCP.

What’s in it for BJP?

From the BJP's perspective, this development could present an opportunity for them to gain a stronger foothold in Andhra Pradesh. The BJP has been trying to establish itself as a viable alternative to the YSRCP and the TDP in the state. If the merger between YSRTP and Telangana Congress leads to internal conflicts within the YSRCP, it could weaken Jagan's position and potentially create disillusionment among the party's supporters. The BJP could capitalise on this discontent and attempt to attract disenchanted YSRCP members, thereby expanding its influence in the region.

The potential merger of Sharmila's YSRTP with the Telangana Congress could indeed be problematic for YS Jagan and the YSRCP. The historical animosity between Jagan and the Congress, the potential for coercion or instigation against him, and the influence of the TDP in the Congress party raise legitimate concerns about the future dynamics in Andhra Pradesh's political landscape. It remains to be seen how this situation unfolds and whether the YSRCP can navigate the challenges that lie ahead.