Vijayamma’s statement sparks political storm

YS Sharmila launched a scathing attack on her brother, accusing him of betrayal both as a sibling and as a political leader 

The long-simmering family and political feud between former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and his sister, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Y.S. Sharmila has escalated sharply, triggering fresh political debate across the state. The controversy intensified after their mother, Y.S. Vijayamma, issued a notarised statement clarifying the contentious issue of family asset distribution, now widely circulating on social media.

In the notarised letter, Vijayamma asserted that all assets accumulated until the death of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in 2009 were combined family assets and had never been formally divided. She stated that YSR’s intention was to distribute these assets equally among his grandchildren, a position she described as well known within the family.

Backing Sharmila’s claims, Vijayamma maintained that the assets mentioned in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) rightfully belonged to her daughter. She alleged that despite the agreement, injustice had been done to Sharmila and her children, expressing hope that Jagan would eventually do justice as a son. In a strongly worded appeal, she rejected false propaganda, invoking moral accountability and urging that the issue not be repeatedly politicised in the media.

Meanwhile, Y.S. Sharmila launched a scathing attack on her brother, accusing him of betrayal both as a sibling and as a political leader. Speaking to the media at Visakhapatnam airport, she made explosive remarks, stating, “If one has a brother like Jagan, enemies are unnecessary,” and went on to call him a stain on the very meaning of brotherhood.

Sharmila further escalated her criticism by linking Jagan to the handling of the high-profile Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy murder case. She alleged that the former Chief Minister had shielded the accused while failing to deliver justice to the victim’s daughter, Sunitha. Questioning inconsistencies, she pointed to early media reports attributing Viveka’s death to a heart attack and demanded answers on how such narratives emerged.

Accusing Jagan of misusing political power, media influence, and digital propaganda machinery, Sharmila said multiple contradictory theories were floated over the years without any substantiating evidence. She reiterated her claim that the murder was linked to political disagreements over the Kadapa MP ticket, alleging that Vivekananda Reddy was seen as an obstacle.

The intensifying war of words within the YS family is now reverberating beyond personal boundaries, taking centre stage in Andhra Pradesh’s political discourse, with potential implications for both electoral narratives and public perception.