Y. S. Sharmila is an Indian politician and the younger sister of Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy, the seventeenth Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. Her late father, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, chaired the CM post of Andhra Pradesh from 2004 to 2009. Sharmila launched a new political party, YSR Telangana Party, on 8 July 2021 in Telangana.
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Wiki/Biography
Yeduguri Sandinti Sharmila Reddy [1]The Hindu [2]India Today was born on Monday, 17 December 1973 (age 49 years; as of 2022) in Pulivendula, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 8″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family & Religion
Sharmila belongs to the Christian community. [3]India Today
Parents & Siblings
Her father, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, a businessman-turned-politician, served as the fourteenth Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for the Indian National Congress (INC) from 2004 to 2009. He was killed in a helicopter crash in September 2009.
Sharmila’s father, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy
Her mother, Y. S. Vijayamma, is also a politician and a former MLA for the Pulivendula constituency of Andhra Pradesh. Sharmila’s brother, Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy, is the incumbent CM of Andhra Pradesh (2019-present).
In Picture (L-R): Y. S. Sharmila, Jaganmohan Reddy (Sharmila’s brother), and Vijayamma (Sharmila’s mother)
Husband & Children
Sharmila got married to M Anil Kumar in 1995. It was a love marriage and also a second marriage for both of them. Anil, who was a Hindu Brahmin by birth, converted to Christianity after marrying Sharmila. [4]India Today Founder of Anil World Evangelism, Anil became an evangelist in 1998.
Y. S. Sharmila with her husband, Anil Kumar
The couple together has two children, Anjali and Raja Reddy.
Y. S. Sharmila’s son, Raja Reddy
Y. S. Sharmila with her daughter, Anjali Reddy
Signature
Career
Although Sharmila has never contested electoral politics, she has consistently been a part of her brother’s Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party’s (YSRCP) election campaigns. She first came into the limelight in 2012 when she initiated Maro Praja Prasthanam (another journey to the people) foot march as a part of the YSRCP election campaign. Sharmila began her 230 days padayatra on 18 October 2012 in Idupulapaya in Kadapa district and covered 2,250 villages in 116 Assembly constituencies across AP. During the mass contact programme, Sharmila addressed various local, state, and national issues. Another motive of the padayatra was to garner support for her brother, who was then jailed in a disproportionate assets case by the CBI. The Yatra came to an end on 4 August 2013 in Ichchapuram.
Y. S. Sharmila walking during Maro Praja Prasthanam padayatra on 2 December 2012
She launched another mass contact programme prior to the 2019 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election. This time she led an 11-day bus tour across Andhra Pradesh, covering 1553 km. Here is a video from the bus yatra.
Sharmila joined the Indian National Congress party in the presence of Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi on 4 January 2024; she merged the YSR Telangana Party into INC.
4 January 2024: Y. S. Sharmila, along with Rahul Gandhi and Mapanna Mallikarjun, after joining the Indian National Congress
Controversies
Arrested during the padayatra titled ‘Praja Prasthanam’
On 28 November 2022, during the padayatra titled ‘Praja Prasthanam,’ Y. S. Sharmila and her party members were allegedly attacked by a group of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) (formerly known as Telangana Rashtra Samithi TRS) workers at Chennaraopet in Warangal district, who protested against her for passing offensive remarks on the BRS party leader, Peddi Sudarshan Reddy. During the padayatra on 27 November 2022, Sharmila accused Peddi Sudarshan Reddy of acquiring land illegally and extorting money by intimidating common people and contractors. The YSR Telangana party workers accused BSR party members of allegedly attacking the caravan in which Sharmila was resting and breaking the car glasses, which belonged to the YSR Telangana party. After the incident, the police cancelled the permission granted to carry the padayatra. While addressing the reporters, Sharmila expressed her anger for cancelling the permission granted to continue the padayatra and said,
For the past 223 days, me and my party leaders and representatives are holding a peaceful padayatra to highlight the plight of various sections of people in Telangana. Our rising popularity has jolted Chief Minister KCR and his partymen, who want to stop me at any cost.” [5]The Times of India
In response to the attack on her convoy, on 29 November 2022, Sharmila proceeded towards Telangana’s Chief Minister, K Chandrashekar Rao’s residence, along with her party members to protest against him and his party, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). While on her way to CM’s residence, she was stopped by police, but she locked herself inside the car. After Sharmila refused to step out of her car, police had to call a crane to tow her vehicle and took her to SR Nagar police station, where she was arrested along with six other party members. A case was registered against her at the Panjagutta police station under Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), section 333 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty), and section 327 (voluntarily causing hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act). After a few hours, she was released on bail.
A picture of Y. S. Sharmila inside her car as it was dragged away with the help of a crane, while she protests against Telangana’s first Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, in Hyderabad
Arrested for manhandling police officials
Y S Sharmila was arrested by the police on 24 April 2023 after she was caught on camera manhandling policemen outside her Hyderabad residence after an altercation with police personnel. According to reports, she assaulted a sub-inspector, rammed her vehicle into a police constable, causing him to suffer a leg injury, and abused police officials as they tried to prevent her from holding an unauthorized “protest.” [6]Rediff
Facts/Trivia
- In January 2019, amid her link-up rumours with the Bahubali fame actor Prabhas, Sharmila registered a complaint at Hyderabad’s Police Commissionerate Office against Telugu Desam Party’s social media wing for spreading rumours and posting objectionable content against her. While talking to media officials about it, she said,
They have spread rumours that I have an illicit relation with actor Prabhas just before the 2014 elections. I have denied it then itself, and they stopped it after elections. Now the rumour mill is active again.”
Y. S. Sharmila and her husband with Hyderabad CP Anjani Kumar
- Y. S. Sharmila, on 20 October 2022, began a padayatra titled ‘Praja Prasthanam’ from the Chevella constituency in Telangana’s Ranga Reddy district. She talked about the motive behind her padayatra and said that she wanted to interact with common people, listen to their problems and come up with possible solutions. While addressing the media, Sharmila talked about the reason behind initiating the padayatra from Chevella and said,
Chevella has been sentimentally attached to my father, that is why I have chosen this place to begin my padayatra, which will also end up in the same place. I am planning to walk for 12-15 km a day, and I hope to complete my walkathon in a year.” [7]The Hindustan Times
Y. S. Sharmila, during the Praja Prasthanam padayatra in October 2022
