YSR Telangana Party chief YS Sharmila on Saturday completed 2,000 km of her 4,000-km Praja Prasthanam padyatra in Telangana. he talked Hindu His experiences, people’s reaction, government failures, his party’s political prospects and YSR’s legacy which he feels belong to him, not the Congress party.
Q: What difference do you want to make with this walkathon?
Answer: It is not about difference but about highlighting the problems of the people. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao claims that Telangana is in bliss but people are really suffering. People are repeatedly saying that KCR failed on all his promises like loan waiver, free education, 2-BHK, job for every house, unemployment allowance, three acres of land, free fertilisers, reservation for minorities and land rights for STs. Arogyasree, Jala Yagyam, Fee Reimbursement, Loans to SHGs of YSR era are now deferred by TRS.
Q: Do you think people still connect to YSR and those feelings?
Answer: There were such apprehensions among many people but the overwhelming response from the people proves those apprehensions wrong. There is so much goodwill towards YSR even today and people remember him and wish to see his kind of governance.
Question: There is a perception that Sharmila’s entry into Telangana is driven by some other parties?
Answer: This is wrong. I would have joined those political parties instead of working so hard on the ground. I am inspired by the YSR brand and no party in Telangana has enough credibility to inspire me to join them. I assure you that it is not inspired by any other political party. It has its own identity.
Question: Your brother is the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. People suspect you to be in front of YS Jagan in Telangana?
Answer: Creating and maintaining a party is not easy. It would have been easier for me to join YSRCP or other parties to enter Telangana politics.
Q: Who is the beneficiary of YSR’s legacy in Telangana. Is it Sharmila, Congress or YS Jagan at some point?
Answer: It will definitely be shy. People directly connect me with my father. He likes my will and the audacity to challenge the system.
Q: Where do you think your party stands now politically and where will you reach by the end of the padyatra?
Answer: We will end up as the only alternative to TRS. People will decide my fate, not other political parties.
Q: Will people accept you when your brother is the chief minister in a different state and that too in an emotionally built state like Telangana?
Answer: People have already accepted me. YSR’s image is beyond one region and one party. Their free power benefited more in Telangana than in other regions. People accepted me because I grew up here, studied here, got married here and my children were born here. People accepted me as YSR’s daughter and it is not an issue.
Q: What is your party’s stand in Munugode election?
Answer: Bye-election is wrong in itself and has been brought about by the selfishness of one person and one party. I want the Election Commission of India to be deprived of the right to resign and join other parties when the people voted for him to serve for five years. Personally I have nothing to do with this election but our leaders like to contest. We haven’t fully thought about it.
Q: What is your bet on national politics?
Answer: Right now, the Congress seems to have lost its sheen and Mr. Modi is where he is.
Q: What are the prospects you see for Telangana as a state-specific?
Answer: He deserves much better than what KCR is giving. It has the potential to be the best if served sincerely.