Amaravati:

Flaying YSR Congress chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy over his remarks that the rift with his sister YS Sharmila is “ghar ghar ki kahani (every household’s story)”, the Andhra Pradesh Congress chief on Saturday sought to know whether dragging a mother to court justifies the phrase.

Addressing a press conference, she said the shares of Saraswati Power and Industries, which Jagan Reddy promised to transfer to her at a later date were never attached by the Enforcement Directorate in the former CM’s “quid pro quo” cases and hence could have been transferred long ago.

Both the siblings signed an MoU in 2019 under which Jagan Reddy “out of love and affection” would transfer his and his wife’s shares of Saraswati Power and Industries through gift deed to his sister, subject to the outcome of pending cases.

However, Jagan Reddy conveying his intention to revoke the MoU, in September moved NCLT (National Company Law Tribunal) accusing Sharmila of illegally transferring shares of the firm held by him and his wife Bharathi, in her and mother Vijayamma’s name.

“Jaganmohan Reddy says this happens in every household, and it is a ‘ghar ghar ki kahani‘. What is ghar ghar ki kahani? Is dragging a mother to court a ghar ghar ki kahani? Is it an issue that happens in every household? Don’t you have humanity? Don’t you have any sentiments?” Ms Sharmila asked with tearful eyes.

She further said despite holding the MoU for the past five years she never tried to approach any court (for the settlement) or any media house for (publicity) fearing it would tarnish the reputation of Rajasekhar Reddy’s family.

Replying to the comments made by YSRCP Rajya Sabha MP and her uncle YV Subba Reddy that the companies in question are owned by Jagan Reddy, Ms Sharmila termed it as false and said she was ready to swear on her children.

Ms Sharmila also dared Jagan and Subba Reddy to swear on their children.

According to her, YSR Congress clinched a huge victory in the 2019 assembly polls due to the hard work of herself, her mother and many followers of her late father.

“What has Jaganmohan Reddy done for his sister? It is not a hard fact that Jagan has done injustice to me and my children. God knows this. Several people know this,” a visibly upset Congress leader said.

All the businesses which were established when Rajasekhara Reddy was alive are family assets and that Jagan Mohan Reddy is just a “guardian”, she said in an open letter on Friday.

Sharmila also stated that her father’s intention was for Jagan to divide all the businesses equally among the four grandchildren-two each of Jagan and Sharmila. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Hyderabad:

A feud over property between former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and his sister YS Sharmila has turned into a high-profile legal battle. Mr Reddy had written to the National Company Law Tribunal or NCLT, seeking to nullify her “illegal’ transfer of shares in Saraswati Power and Industries Private Limited to herself and their mother YS Vijayalakshmi. He also wrote to her, accusing her of deceit and declaring that he has no intention of honouring a Memorandum of Understanding they had entered. After the contents of his letter became known, her written response to him has also gone public.

While Mr Reddy had said there was no more affection between the two, Sharmila has accused him of not distributing assets equally between the four grandchildren of YS Rajasekhar Reddy, as desired by him.

On September 10, Mr Reddy and his wife Bharathi Reddy had petitioned NCLT, asking the company to reinstate them as shareholders with the same equity shares as before the transfers were made by Sharmila. 

After a public falling out with her brother, YS Sharmila had floated her own party in 2021. 

The YSR Telangana party, however, was merged with the Congress ahead of the 2024 elections. YS Sharmila was made the chief of Andhra Pradesh Congress, and she has sharply attacked Mr Reddy, who was Chief Minister at the time. She had also contested and lost from the Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency against her cousin Avinash during the elections in May.

In the petition, Mr Reddy and his wife alleged that share transfers to Sharmila and Vijayamma were carried out through a Board resolution in July 2024 without following proper legal procedure. 

The petition also said Mr Reddy had entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sharmila in August 2019 to transfer certain properties and shares “out of love and affection” but this transfer was never executed. In view of the rivalry between the siblings, Mr Reddy had changed his mind.

The recent share transfers were made in violation of this MoU and were the culmination of a “deceitful deviance of law”. Mr Reddy argued that the transfer of shares was “invalid, illegal, void, and unlawful”.

The NCLT has issued notices to all respondents and scheduled the next hearing for November 8.

Mr Reddy had also written to his sister on August 27, pointing out that along with the ancestral property inherited from their father YS Rajasekhara Reddy, he had also built his own businesses.

“Out of the sheer love and affection, I always bore towards you as my sister, I had also expressed my intention that, unrelated to any consideration and purely out of love and affection, I intended to effect transfer of certain properties to you at a future point of time. This was in addition to the amount of approximately Rs.200 crores already given to you directly or through our mother over the last decade or so. This too was given by me out of my sheer love and affection for you,” he wrote.

But despite his affection, Sharmila made several false statements publicly which caused personal disrepute, he wrote. “In view of this and other actions undertaken by you, it makes me wonder why there should be any love and affection or fondness towards you”.

Responding to the letter on September 12, Sharmila wrote that Mr Reddy was not acting in accordance of the will of their late father to distribute the property equally among all four of his grandchildren. 

“Our father was unequivocal in his instructions that all four of his grandchildren are to share equally in all assets that existed during his lifetime, whether they pertain to Bharathi Cements, Sakshi, or any other ventures initiated prior to his passing.”

Contending that the transfer of shares was part of the property sharing “settlement,” she added, “Since you had the upper hand, you did bulldoze your way and we agreed to a settlement as stated in the MOU. Since you are my elder brother and in the interest of resolving family disputes, I agreed to give up my equal share. Thus, under the MoU executed on 31.08.2019, only a few properties were assigned to me.”

“You have now chosen to file cases against your own mother and deprive your own sister and her children of properties to which they are entitled under the MoU. I am appalled at the extent to which you have strayed from the path of our noble father,” she wrote.

She also criticised Mr Reddy’s intervention in her political career, claiming it was “absurd” of him to suggest that she sign a clause that binds her from speaking against him or their cousin Avinash from public platforms. 
 

Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh:

Andhra Pradesh Congress President Y S Sharmila on Saturday filed her nomination for the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat.

Sharmila was accompanied by Sunitha Narreddy, her cousin and daughter of Y S Vivekananda Reddy, who was murdered in the run-up to the 2019 polls.

“Filed the nomination as Kadapa MP candidate. Kadapa people did not forget Y S Rajasekhar Reddy and Vivekananda. We believe that they will vote this time by keeping them in their mind,” said Sharmila, addressing a press conference.

Prior to filing the nomination, Sharmila offered prayers at her father Rajasekhar Reddy’s grave at Idupulupaya.

As Congress candidate for the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat, she will take on her cousin Y S Avinash Reddy from the ruling YSRCP run by her older brother and Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Elections for the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh are scheduled on May 13.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Undavalli (Andhra Pradesh):

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president Y S Sharmila was detained on Thursday on her way to the Secretariat in Guntur district, along with party leaders and activists as part of the ‘Chalo Secretariat’ protest walk to submit a representation, a police official said.

Guntur district superintendent of police Tushar Dudi told news agency PTI that Sharmila was briefly detained.

“Y S Sharmila and other Congress leaders were detained for about three hours and let off. Police detained us near Undavalli at the entrance of the riverside road leading to the Secretariat,” APCC vice-president K Sivaji said.

Mr Sivaji said police moved the detained leaders to Mangalagiri Rural police station and took their signatures.

Y S Sharmila highlighted that she and Congress leaders were allegedly illegally arrested when they set off to the Secretariat to submit a representation demanding a mega District Selection Committee (DSC) teacher recruitment notification but not a ‘deceitful one’.

“Political power is not permanent, remember that. There is no freedom in our state to even submit a representation. It seems there is nobody in the Secretariat to receive the representation. The CM doesn’t go there, ministers are absent and officers also don’t go. This is proof enough to say that they don’t know how to rule,” Sharmila said in a post on ‘X.’ Earlier on Thursday, around 40 Congress activists were arrested in Vijayawada for blocking traffic and raising slogans as part of the planned protest walk to the Secretariat, against the recent DSC notification to recruit teachers.

The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) had called for a ‘Chalo Secretariat’ protest walk today from its office Andhra Ratna Bhavan in Vijayawada in NTR District to the Secretariat in Guntur district.

“We have arrested around 40 people (Congress activists) for obstructing traffic and raising slogans on Eluru Road. We have removed them,” Vijayawada South deputy commissioner of police (DCP) B Ravi Kiran told PTI.

Ms Sharmila said the YSRCP government was making arrests when the Congress party is standing by unemployed people.

She demanded that the government apologise to unemployed people as it reportedly promised 23,000 jobs but notified only around 6,000 in the DSC notification.

“Under the autocratic rule of YSRCP, arrests are being made when questions are being posed about the deceitful DSC. Thousands of police have been deployed around us with barricades, giving an impression that we are captives,” said Sharmila in a post on ‘X.’ Addressing a press conference in Vijayawada before setting off to the Secretariat, she noted that police have been on high alert for the past two days to restrict Congress leaders and activists ahead of proposed protest walk.

“What is our mistake? What is our sin? Are we thieves or bandits? What is the need for the government to restrict us? If you (YSRCP government) have really performed well then why are you fearing a protest from us?” asked Sharmila, who slept overnight in Andhra Ratna Bhavan to avert police restrictions and lead ‘chalo secretariat’.

She demanded a mega DSC notification with 30,000 teacher jobs and also a job calendar.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The YSR Telangana Party will contest all 119 seats in next month’s Assembly election, YS Sharmila said Thursday, putting an end to speculation her outfit will ally with the Congress to consolidate votes against the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi. She said she had waited four months for that deal. “Now no one can blame us for splitting the anti-KCR (Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao) vote. We tried our best,” she said, adding she will contest from Palair and maybe a second location too.

Ms Sharmila, who is also Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s sister, also said there were demand for her mother YS Vijayalakshmi and husband Anil Kumar to contest. “If needed they will also contest. My mother has said she will do whatever (is) needed to support me. She made that promise when I launched my party… that she will stand by me,” she said.

Telangana will vote on November 30 and results will declared on December 3.

READ | 5 States To Vote From November 7 To 30, Results On December 3

Two weeks ago she had said a “final decision” on any alliance with the Congress will be taken by end-September. “If no alliance fructifies, the party will contest all 119 constituencies,” the party said.

YS Sharmila met Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi last month, after which she claimed “constructive discussions” and warned KCR to expect defeat.

READ | Amid Speculation Of Merger With Congress, YS Sharmila Meets Sonia Gandhi

But Telangana Congress boss Revanth Reddy later told NDTV there was no question of her allying with the national party.

Reports suggested the Congress wanted the YSRTP leader to work with her brother to revive the national party in Andhra Pradesh, which will hold an Assembly election next year.

YS Sharmila ruled that out and her brother has distanced himself from her political activities.

The daughter of a former Congress chief minister, YS Rajasekhar Reddy, Ms Sharmila started the YSRTP in 2021 to bring the YSR family, or ‘Rajanna Rajyam’ to the state – in which both she and her party are electorally untested. As part of her efforts, she went on a 3,800-km state-wide march.

“All my efforts are for Telangana. I am doing everything to improve the condition of the people… so they benefit from the formation of Telangana,” she said after the Delhi trip.

Hyderabad:

Ahead of the Telangana election all eyes are on the Congress as it bids to consolidate votes against the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi by reaching out to opposition leader YS Sharmila. The YSR Telangana party leader met the Congress’ Sonia and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi but she has since then neither confirmed nor denied speculation of a merger. 

Also, despite repeatedly saying her focus is on Telangana, there is buzz that Ms Sharmila – who is Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s sister – may cross family lines next year, when her brother’s state votes.

“Met Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi… constructive discussions took place. The daughter of YS Rajasekhar Reddy will work relentlessly towards benefitting the people of Telangana,” she told reporters after talks with the Congress leaders, declaring, “I can say one thing… countdown for KCR (Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao) has begun.”

Ms Sharmila stressed her “one-point agenda is to end KCR’s rule in Telangana”.

READ | Amid Speculation Of Merger With Congress, YS Sharmila Meets Sonia Gandhi

The daughter of a former Congress chief minister, YS Rajasekhar Reddy, Ms Sharmila started the YSRTP in July 2021 with a promise to bring the YSR family, or ‘”Rajanna Rajyam” to the state – one in which both she and her party are electorally untested. As part of efforts to fulfill that vow, she went on a 3,800-km march through Telangana to target the ruling party.

“All my efforts are for Telangana. I am doing everything to improve the condition of the people.. so they benefit from the formation of Telangana,” she said after the Delhi trip.

“No Idea”, Says YSRTP

Interestingly, when contacted, YSRTP spokesperson Konda Raghava Reddy said the party’s senior leaders were unaware of Ms Sharmila meeting the Gandhi family in Delhi.

The YSRTP boss has, in the recent past, met other Congress leaders, including now-Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and General Secretary KC Venugopal. The talk then was around securing a Rajya Sabha seat or help in taking on her brother in Andhra Pradesh.

Mr Reddy has distanced himself from his sister’s political activities. After his father’s death he had broken away from the Congress to launch the YSR Congress Party in September 2009 and he did not attend his sister’s party’s launch.

READ | Jagan Reddy’s Sister Launches Party In Telangana, He Stays Away

How Would YSRTP + Congress Work?

If Ms Sharmila does, in fact, merge with the Congress, it could help consolidate anti-BRS votes in pockets where she has emotional appeal, especially among YSR loyalists. She may want to contest from Palair in Khammam, where the Congress has some influence but may need to a profile boost. Alternatively, she may also run from Secunderabad.

Hyderabad:

Amid speculation that she would merge her party YSRTP with the Congress, Y S Sharmila, the sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, on Thursday met top AICC leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in the national capital.

Speculation about Ms Sharmila growing closer to the Congress has been doing the rounds for quite some time after she met Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in Bengaluru in May to congratulate him on the victory of the party in the neighbouring state.

“Met Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Constructive discussions took place. The daughter of Y S Rajasekhar Reddy would relentlessly work towards benefiting Telangana people. I can say one thing, the countdown for KCR began (hinting at Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s defeat in the upcoming Assembly polls),” she told reporters after the meeting in New Delhi without elaborating further.

When contacted, YSR Telangana Congress Party’s spokesperson Konda Raghava Reddy said none of the leaders or cadre of YSRTP are aware of her Delhi trip and meeting with the Gandhi family.

Sharmila had earlier categorically said that she would contest from Palair Assembly constituency in poll-bound Telangana.

She vigorously campaigned for her sibling Jagan Mohan Reddy during the 2019 Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh and later floated her own party YSRTP in Telangana.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)