Having succeeded in achieving BJP-mukt Dakshin Bharat, the Congress is inching its way to capture other southern states in the country.
For this, the Congress is trying to pull in the YSRTP president Y.S. Sharmila into the party fold to win in both the Telugu states, according to ABN Radhakrishna. However, it is learnt that Sharmila is not ready to merge her party into the Congress.
According to the weekly column in the Telugu daily, Sharmila received a call from AICC general secretary and Rahul Gandhi’s sister Priyanka Gandhi regarding the merger. Sharmila is of the opinion that there would be no use of moving into Andhra Pradesh, without making a mark in the Telangana. But, the Congress wants to use Sharmila’s party to confront with the YCP in Andhra Pradesh.
The Congress is of the opinion that the party would be able to revive its past glory by 2029 elections, if it goes along with Sharmila.
There is buzz that Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar was chosen to act as a mediator between the AICC and the YSRTP. The Congress is also planning attract all the YSRCP electorate and ensure victory in the state in a strategic manner. Rahul and Priyanka are trying to revive the Congress’ glory making use of the rift between the YS siblings.
Further, the Congress is of the opinion that there is no chance for the TDP to gain strength in its sails and those parties which are favouring the YCP would not be on the BJP side.
In such a situation, the Congress will win in AP only if the YCP loses its power. In this process, the Congress wants to encourage Sharmila.
The Congress treats both BRS and YCP chiefs K. Chandrasekhar Rao and Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy as enemies as the former had cheated their party saying he would merge the party while the latter had refused to accept the supremacy of the party.
The Congress is also planning to get back all those who left the party by implementing Ghar Wapsi in both the states.
According to scuttlebutt, a couple of leaders like Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Jupalli Krishna Rao who were not clear about which party to join have got some clarity on it. PCC chief Revanth Reddy called upon all those who left the party to get back to the Congress burying all the differences between the party leaders. The Congress believes that the party would certainly have a bright future if it remained united, both in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.