Will ‘outsider’ Sharmila impact Telangana politics?

Hyderabad, Feb 10 : The plans by former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s daughter Y.S. Sharmila to enter Telangana politics came as a surprise, leaving all major players in the state guessing on what impact it may have on their prospects in 2023 Assembly elections.
Sharmila, sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, is the first leader from Andhra Pradesh after Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N. Chandrababu Naidu to dabble in Telangana politics since its formation as a separate state in 2014.
Aiming to bring back “Rajanna Rajyam”, a reference to the ‘golden rule’ of her late father, Sharmila is planning to float a new party to make foray in Telangana politics.
Her intention has puzzled all as both the YSR Congress Party, led by her brother, and the TDP have become almost inactive in Telangana as they are seen outsiders in the new dynamics of state politics which revolve around regional identity and aspirations.
As the YSRCP itself has distanced itself from Sharmila’s move, political observers say it will be a herculean task for her to float and sustain a new party.
Sharmila, who began consultations with loyalists of her late father on Tuesday, believes that there is scope for a new player in Telangana politics. “There is no Rajanna Rajyam in Telangana. I want to bring it,” she said and claimed to have received positive feedback during the first meeting with YSR loyalists from Nalgonda district.