Ending months of speculation, Y S Sharmila, the chief of YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP) and sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, officially joined the Congress on Thursday. During the announcement, she declared the merger of her party with the Congress and expressed her willingness to undertake any responsibility assigned to her. Addressing reporters alongside Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi, she emphasized the Congress party's status as the largest secular party in the country.

Sharmila's decision comes after talks with former YSRCP MP Y V Subba Reddy, her uncle, failed. Sources suggest that Jagan was concerned about the potential impact on his influence and image if his sister entered the political arena in the state.

The political journey of the brother-sister duo, who parted ways in July 2021 when Sharmila formed her outfit in Telangana, has been marked by attempts to carry forward their father Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's legacy. While Jagan took charge of YSRCP and led it in Andhra Pradesh, Sharmila served as its national convener.

The entry of YSRTP chief Sharmila into Congress sets the stage for a possible brother-sister contest in the upcoming simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls in the state. This development could have significant implications for both Jagan's political future and the Congress party, which has faced challenges in Andhra Pradesh since its bifurcation in 2014.

Sharmila, a year younger than Jagan, is married to Brother Anil Kumar, known for his evangelical preaching in Andhra Pradesh. Despite her efforts in Telangana, she struggled to garner voter support, unlike her brother's success in Andhra Pradesh. The siblings, known for their differences on various issues since their father's death in 2009, have taken divergent political paths, with Jagan forming YSRCP in 2011.

Sharmila's move to join Congress brings a new dynamic to the political landscape, potentially reshaping alliances and strategies in the upcoming elections.