Jagan, Sharmila Fighting For YSR’s Corruption or Inheritance?

What initially appeared to be just a political rift between YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and his sister Sharmila due to the difference of their ideologies has now turned into a perennial legal battle over the share of properties belonging to their late father and former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy.

The animosity between the brother and the sister is not new for those who have been following politics for the last couple of years. But, the family feud took a worse turn recently when Jagan Mohan Reddy filed a plea against Sharmila and Vijayamma in NCLT over shares dispute. This is followed by the explosive revelation of mutual letters written by both of them with strong objections and allegations by one on the other.

The strained relation between Jagan and Sharmila is not confined just to distribution of shares in Saraswati Power company but also concerns with the assets relating to their father YS Rajasekhar Reddy.

Though the entire episode appears to be a family issue explicitly, there is a serious discussion among the general public over the other side of the matter. This is because both siblings are fighting it over the share of properties acquired by their father Rajasekhar Reddy after he became Chief Minister but not about the generational wealth.

It is well known that YS Rajasekhar Reddy faced numerous allegations of corruption during his tenure as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. Jagan Mohan Reddy was primarily accused of involving in various Quid Pro Quo dealings while his father was in power. There were allegations that he acquired Crores of money through illegal means and several cases of disproportionate assets were also filed against him.

Though Jagan claims that he acquired all these businesses with his own effort and investment, Sharmila wanted an equal share in all them because they were attained only with the help of their father YS Rajasekhar Reddy who ruled the state for 6 years.

So, it is clearly evident that majority of the assets and properties acquired by Rajasekhar Reddy were only after he became the Chief Minister of the state. And, it is no brainer on how YSR family’s assets rose drastically after coming to power, says TDP leaders.

Now, the public perception is that both the brother and sister exposed the alleged father’s corrupt regime with their property disputes.