Is BJP behind Y S Sharmila party in Telangana?

Since last few days there were rumors about Y S Jagan sister — Y S Sharmila launching her own party! Giving credence to rumors, Y S Sharmila today announced that she would be making her entry into politics. She said she wants to bring the legacy of her late father Y S Rajasekhara Reddy back to Telangana State.

While this move is welcomed by some, it was criticized by others. Telangana State was formed based on regional sentiment. Sharmila who hails from Rayalaseema region cannot penetrate into common public of Telangana with regional sentiment.

So why she is eager to enter into politics where she is not strong?

After Y S Jagan became CM of AP, a section of public expected him to get his immediate family members awarded with Rajya Sabha membership. This includes her sister Sharmila. However, Y S Jagan wanted to avoid the tag that Chandrababu Naidu and KCR got for favoring their family members in TDP and TRS parties. So he sidelined his sister by denying any major platform for her on the political stage.

So far Jagan has not given any big political posts to his mother or sister or his uncle Vivekananda Reddy. This might have caused some grievance, especially with his sister who was expecting a plum post!

In the past, whenever a political party wanted to split votes of their opposing party, they would identify a personality who can do that job for themselves. Sharmila may have been identified as such a person who can split votes.

Earlier Congress party used Kondadaram to launch a party against KCR. Chandrababu Naidu used Devender Goud to launch party to split votes of TRS. More recently Chandrababu Naidu used K A Paul to split Christian votes for Jagan in 2019 election. So its common for a major party to encourage launch of a new party to split votes of their opponent.

Who would benefit with Sharmila launching party?

In Telangana, TRS still holds the majority share of electorate. They are willing to tie up with hardcore Muslim fundamentalist party MIM headed by Owaisi to get muslim share of vote bank. That leaves Christian and SC/ST Vote bank.

Currently, Congress in Telangana has the blessing of Christian voters. If these votes go to another party, then Congress will be at disadvantage. BJP which had recently become very strong and soon emerging as an alternative to KCR in Telangana may have seen this as a good opportunity. Also TRS would be benefitted if Congress party gets its Christian vote bank split to Sharmila party.

KCR got a set back recently when he tried to promote his son KTR as future CM. KCR nephew Harish Rao enjoys a great support among ground level TRS party cadre. After backlash, KCR was forced to issue a statement that he has no intention of passing the leadership to his son KTR.

So KCR knows that the next election would be tough for his party with BJP gaining strength and his party facing anti-incumbency.

For Christian and SC/ST vote bank, neither BJP nor TRS are the first preference. Their first choice would be Congress Party. Although KCR defers with BJP on regional issues, he tries to balance it off by maintaining a good relationship at Center. So it is very much possible that Sharmila may have had the blessings of both BJP and TRS parties in her latest move. Sharmila would be able to attract Christian vote bank in Telangana. Jagan too would be happy as his sister would not be going against him in Andhra Pradesh.

It looks like the stage is set for a close contest between BJP and TRS parties for the next assembly election in 2023.