Andhra CM’s sister YS Sharmila joins Congress:Will it make difference to party’s political fortunes?

Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan's sister YS Sharmila today joined the Congress party. Will it make any difference to Congress' political fortunes? Prof Subrahmanyam says YS Sharmila provides a destination/platform for unhappy YSRCP leaders to come back home to old Congress, adding that YSR’s daughter might not be able to bring Congress to power but will revive it in AP and increase its vote share. Watch him in conversation with ThePrint’s DK Singh & Prasad Nichenametla.

01:15 Sharmila’s joining Congress a gamechanger for Andhra politics
01:28 Boost morale of Congress leaders
02:58 YSR Congress itself is the Congress; whole vote bank had shifted to YSRCP
04:12 “Sharmila’s Congress” provide destination/platform for unhappy YSRCP leaders to come back home to old Congress
04:50 She might not be able to bring Congress to power but will increase the vote share
05:17 Jagan facing anti-incumbency; but his position strong because of anti-BJP vote i.e., Muslims, Christians
05:50 Chandrababu Naidu not acceptable to Muslims, Christians
06:00 Sharmila could bring these minority votes to the Congress
07:12 Actual Christian population might be up to six percent in AP and Muslims are nine percent
07:47 This vote shift will damage the YSR Congress
08:25 Pawan Kalyan’s Janasena strength might have increased to 9-10 percent
08:52 TDP-Janasena combination will work in AP
09:45 A section of AP BJP leaders interested in joining TDP-Janasena alliance
11:40 A section of TDP leaders oppose BJP; think that Chandrababu Naidu’s arrest was with Modi’s blessings
13:20 Some YSRCP dissenters have already expressed solidarity with Sharmila and some more will come out soon
14:35 It has to be seen if Sharmila will be given liberty in Congress
15:10 YSR legacy issue does not arise now
17:52 Sharmila cannot become the CM; she’ll split votes in almost all the 175 constituencies damaging Jagan’s prospects
19:14 Congress is blamed for AP bifurcation but in the last nine and half years, both Chandrababu, Jagan failed in developing the truncated state
19:45 Don’t think YSR widow Vijayamma would campaign for Sharmila
20:50 Jagan started feeling the impact of Sharmila joining the Congress
23:40 BJP did not want Congress to form government in Telangana, particularly after Karnataka
24:40 YSRCP failed in getting special status to AP while it helped BJP in passing of various bills
26:22 Some suspect an understanding between Chandrababu and Congress




---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exclusive content, special privileges & more – Subscribe to ThePrint for Special benefits: https://theprint.in/subscribe/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect with ThePrint
» Subscribe to ThePrint: https://theprint.in/subscribe/
» Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/3nCMpht
» Like us on Facebook:   / theprintindia  
» Tweet us on Twitter:   / theprintindia  
» Follow us on Instagram:   / theprintindia  
» Find us on LinkedIn :   / theprint  
» Subscribe to ThePrint on Telegram: https://t.me/ThePrintIndia
» Find us on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2NMVlnB
» Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3pEOta8