Sharmila questions Jagan’s silence on key allegations

“Every word in the letter released by her mother, Y.S. Vijayamma, regarding the family’s property division is absolutely true. YSRCP Chief should respond to it directly if he has the courage.” 

Y.S. Sharmila

President, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee

Metro India News | AMARAVATI 

Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president Y.S. Sharmila launched a scathing and deeply personal political attack on her brother and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, alleging that the ongoing family property dispute is being deliberately amplified to divert attention from the sensitive Vivekananda Reddy murder case. In a charged press conference on Monday, Sharmila made a series of sharp remarks, escalating the already intense political and familial confrontation into a full-blown public battle.

Sharmila asserted that every word in the letter released by her mother, Y.S. Vijayamma, regarding the family’s property division is absolutely true, and challenged the YSRCP Chief to respond to it directly if he has the courage. She accused YSRCP leaders of orchestrating a narrative around the asset dispute to deflect from uncomfortable questions surrounding the murder of former minister Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy.

Expressing anguish, Sharmila questioned why media outlets aligned with the party had initially portrayed Viveka's death as a heart attack for several hours. “Who will answer why it was projected as a natural death? Those answers must come from Avinash Reddy and from Bharati Reddy, who runs the media house,” she said, alleging that the ruling establishment is avoiding these questions by shifting focus to personal matters.

Rejecting allegations that she is fighting for a share in family assets or acting at the behest of political rivals, Sharmila clarified that her political journey is not driven by property interests. “If my intention was to fight for assets, I would have entered Andhra Pradesh politics directly instead of launching a party in Telangana,” she said, attempting to counter the narrative that she is being used as a political tool against her brother.

She further revealed that documents related to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between her and Jagan regarding asset distribution were not made public earlier. According to her, these documents surfaced only after Jagan allegedly initiated legal action against their mother, bringing internal family matters into the public domain.

Coming down heavily on YSRCP leaders, Sharmila defended her mother’s credibility, stating that Vijayamma represents the values and legacy of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. She emphasized that the letter clearly states YSR’s wish for equal distribution of family assets among all children and accused Jagan of deviating from that principle.

Sharmila also questioned the opposition party’s claims that the letter was fabricated or signed under pressure. “If the signature is not hers, why hasn’t my mother come forward to deny it? Why can’t Jagan Mohan Reddy himself bring her before the media to clarify?” she asked, intensifying pressure on the YSRCP leadership.

Further, she argued that the issue should be addressed directly by Jagan rather than through party leaders and social media campaigns. “If this is a personal issue, why is the entire party machinery being used to respond? Why is Jagan silent?” she asked, suggesting that his silence indicates an unwillingness to confront the issue directly.

Taking the attack further into political territory, Sharmila accused Jagan of compromising state interests for political gains, alleging that he had mortgaged key issues like Special Category Status and the Polavaram project to maintain proximity with the central leadership. She asserted that her political stance is rooted in the ideals of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, unlike self-serving politics practiced by her brother.