In a dramatic political confrontation in Andhra Pradesh, YS Sharmila Reddy, the Andhra Pradesh Congress chief and sister of current Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, heightened tensions by alleging government attempts to place her under house arrest. This allegation followed on the heels of a public demonstration dubbed ‘Chalo Secretariat’, which was aimed at addressing grievances of the unemployed youth and students.
YS Sharmila, who assumed her role in the Congress on January 4 and was quickly appointed as the party’s state leader, was seen in a viral video taking refuge and spending the night on the floor of the party’s office in Vijayawada. This act of defiance was her way of evading an alleged house arrest. She accused the ruling government, led by her brother, of incompetence in dealing with key issues affecting unemployed youth and students, and labeled the government’s actions as dictatorial after witnessing an overwhelming police presence around her.
Parliament Member Manickam Tagore joined the chorus of condemnation against the state government, asserting the need to respect democratic rights and the right to peaceful protest. In her speech in Vijayawada and on her social media account, Sharmila expressed her outrage against the government’s action, questioning if the government perceived protesting citizens as terrorists or anti-social elements. She declared the continuous struggle on behalf of the unemployed despite any governmental obstruction.
The move by Sharmila to guard against house arrest came just prior to the Congress-led ‘Chalo Secretariat’ protest. The next day, she accused the government of instilling fear and attempting to cover their incompetence by curbing protests. The presence of a substantial police force around the Andhra Pradesh Congress committee headquarters in Vijayawada signaled the authorities’ intent to maintain law and order in the wake of the protest.
Before taking charge of the Congress in Andhra Pradesh, YS Sharmila was at the helm of the YSR Telangana Party, which she founded after an apparent rift with her brother. Since her elevation to the Congress leadership, she has been critical of Jagan Mohan Reddy’s governance, citing increased atrocities on Dalits and unchecked activities of mining and sand mafias. She also highlighted Reddy’s inaction on demanding special category status for Andhra Pradesh from the Centre, a cause he once vociferously championed.