APCC president YS Sharmila on Monday met her cousin YS Sunitha, daughter of her murdered uncle YS Vivekananda Reddy at Idupulapaya in the Kadapa district, triggering a speculation that the latter might join the Congress soon.
The murder had brought out the differences between the YSR family with YS Sunitha waging a prolonged legal battle against local YSRCP MP YS Avinash Reddy and his father indicted by the CBI in the case though he enjoys the support of Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy.
YS Sunitha, a physician is tipped to contest the elections this time, taking on Avinash Reddy from the Kadapa seat.
The meeting of the cousins lasted for two hours before they visited the grave of former chief minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy in Idupulapaya. This has triggered fresh speculation as YS Sharmila has been taking potshots against her brother Jaganmohan every day even as the YSRCP has accused the Congress of trying to divide the family.
Vivekananda Reddy was murdered in March 2019 at his house in Pulivendula. The case was handed over to the CBI on Sunitha’s appeal in the AP High Court claiming that the deceased was unwilling to allow Avinash Reddy to be a YSRCP candidate from Kadapa.
He wanted the party to nominate either Sharmila or her mother Vijayamma for the seat. However, Avinash Reddy, who evaded arrest so far, denied any links to the murder. His father YS Bhaskar Reddy who was arrested by the CBI has recently got bail.
Sharmila, who has initially maintained silence on the murder, has now lent her support to Sunitha. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s wife Bharti is the cousin of Avinash Reddy from her mother’s side.