Ys Sharmila Reddy Biography:
Yeduguri Sandinti Sharmila Reddy (born December 17, 1973), commonly known as Y. S. Sharmila, is an Indian politician currently serving as the 24th president of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee, the state unit of the Indian National Congress party. She is the younger sister of Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, and the daughter of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Y. S. Vijayamma.
Ys Sharmila Reddy Political Career:
Early Political Career
Sharmila first gained attention in June 2012 when she began campaigning for the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) alongside her mother, Y. S. Vijayamma, in the absence of her elder brother, Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. During this period, she played a pivotal role as the party convener, helping YSRCP secure 15 of the 18 assembly seats and the sole parliamentary seat contested in the by-elections.
One of her most notable efforts was a 3,000-kilometer (1,900-mile) walkathon, which she began on October 18, 2012, at Idupulapaya in Kadapa district. The walkathon, covering 14 districts, concluded on August 4, 2013, in Ichchapuram.
Ahead of the 2019 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections, Sharmila led an 11-day bus Yatra across the state, branded with a “Bye Bye Babu” campaign aimed at then-Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Titled “Praja Theerpu – Bye Bye Babu,” the campaign spanned 1,553 kilometers (965 miles) and included 39 public addresses, during which she distributed over 20,000 autographed caps.
YSR Telangana Party
In February 2021, Sharmila publicly expressed her political differences with her brother Jagan and highlighted the lack of a significant presence of YSRCP in Telangana. On April 9, 2021, she announced plans to launch her own political party in Telangana, choosing July 8, 2021, the birth anniversary of her father, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, for the formal launch of the YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP). Leading up to the launch, she campaigned vigorously against the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (formerly TRS) government.
In November 2023, Sharmila announced that YSR Telangana Party would not contest the Telangana Legislative Assembly elections. She expressed her support for the Congress Party, emphasizing their commitment to working alongside Congress if they were to come to power.
On January 4, 2024, Sharmila officially merged YSR Telangana Party with the Indian National Congress (INC).
Indian National Congress
Following the merger, Sharmila joined the Indian National Congress in a ceremony in New Delhi, where she was welcomed by AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi. Shortly after, on January 16, 2024, she was appointed president of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee.
Ys Sharmila Reddy Personal Life:
Sharmila was born into a prominent Reddy political and business family in Hyderabad to Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Y. S. Vijayamma. In 1995, she married Morusupalli Anil Kumar, who was originally from a Hindu Brahmin family in Telangana but later converted to Christianity. He is now the leader of Anil World Evangelism. The couple has two children, a son and a daughter, and they currently reside in Hyderabad.
Interesting Facts about Y. S. Sharmila Reddy:
Y. S. Sharmila Reddy is the younger sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and the daughter of the former Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and Y. S. Vijayamma.
Her husband, Anil Kumar, was originally from the Hindu Brahmin community, but after their marriage, he converted to Christianity.
Ys Sharmila Reddy Physical Stats & More:
- Height (approx.): 5′ 8″ (173 cm)
- Eye Color: Black
- Hair Color: Black
Ys Sharmila Reddy Controversies:
- Filing Complaint Over Rumors of Relationship with Actor Prabhas
In July 2019, Sharmila lodged a complaint with Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar against the social media IT cell of Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP). She accused TDP’s IT cell of spreading false rumors about her having an illicit relationship with Baahubali actor Prabhas. Addressing the media, Sharmila stated, “They started spreading rumors about my alleged relationship with Prabhas just before the 2014 elections. I denied it at that time, and the rumors died down after the elections. However, now the rumor mill is active again.” - Arrested for Protesting Against Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and BRS
On November 28, 2022, during her ‘Praja Prasthanam’ padayatra in Warangal district, Sharmila’s convoy was allegedly attacked by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) workers after she made accusations against BRS leader Peddi Sudarshan Reddy. Sharmila had publicly accused Reddy of extortion, land grabbing, and threatening contractors. Following the attack on her convoy, police canceled the permission for her padayatra. Sharmila expressed frustration over the situation, stating, “For the past 223 days, my party leaders and I have been conducting a peaceful padayatra to bring attention to the problems faced by various sections of people in Telangana. Our growing popularity has clearly shaken Chief Minister KCR and his party members, who are determined to stop me.” On November 29, 2022, Sharmila led a protest march towards Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao’s residence in Hyderabad. When police stopped her, she locked herself inside her car. Refusing to exit, the police used a crane to tow her vehicle with her still inside. She was then detained at SR Nagar police station along with six other party members. They were released a few hours later after being granted bail. A case was filed against Sharmila at the Panjagutta police station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 353 (assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from duty), Section 333 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter a public servant from duty), and Section 327 (voluntarily causing hurt to extort property or force illegal actions). - Manhandled Policemen in Hyderabad On April 24, 2023, Y. S. Sharmila was arrested after being caught on camera physically assaulting police personnel during an altercation outside her residence in Hyderabad. Reports indicate that she assaulted a sub-inspector, drove her vehicle into a police constable, causing him a leg injury, and verbally abused officers. The incident occurred as the police attempted to stop her from participating in a protest for which she had not obtained the necessary permission
