Sharmila, A ‘Redbull’ For Congress!

In the last two elections, Congress was in a neck-on-neck battle with NOTA and ended up polling fewer votes than NOTA in 2019. But the situation changed in 2024 with the arrival of YS family heir YS Sharmila.

Sharmila has put AP Congress back in the political map with her mass programs. She is interacting with the masses by traveling in RTC buses and getting to know their problems. The financially weaker sections are the ones that have been with Congress historically and Sharmila has focused precisely on this section.

The YS lady is looking to harvest the anti-incumbency vote share also by speaking against CM Jagan Mohan Reddy. This might bemuse YS family followers but working on anti-incumbency is a must for any opposition party and Sharmila has worked out this logic. This could help Congress harvest anti-Jagan votes.

Last and most importantly, there is again a discussion about the MLA and MP tickets in Congress. After not even having notable candidates in 2014 and 19, the party has now come to a position where there is some sort of demand for at least a section of the MLA seats.

Mangalagiri’s 2-time Alla Ramakrishna Reddy who defeated Nara Lokesh in 2019 is already a part of Congress and he could be contesting in the polling. Other YCP and TDP rebels could also board the Congress train if their parties don’t give them the tickets. Sharmila’s entry has made Congress at least a look-worthy platform for candidates. With all this, Sharmila has at least put Congress on the political map as the party wa struggling with lack of leadership in last two elections.