Former united Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy’s daughter, YS Sharmila, started her own party, YSRTP, in Telangana, in July this year. Ever since then, Sharmila has been trying her best to gain the confidence of the people of the state and wanted to participate in a padayatra, to become closer to the people of the state. The coronavirus pandemic delayed things for her, postponing her padayatra by several months. At last, Sharmila began her padayatra today.
Sharmila’s mother, Vijayalakshmi, flagged off the padayatra at the Shankarpalli crossroads in Chevella in Ranga Reddy district, after addressing an impressive public turnout. Sharmila walked for 10KM today and would walk for 12-15 KM from tomorrow. Sharmila chose Chevella to start her padayatra, as that was where YSR started his Praja Prasthanam padayatra in 2003, and walked for 1500 KM in united Andhra Pradesh, resulting in the Congress’s victory in 2004.
While Chevella has been a sentimental place for YSR, there were two main reasons behind YSR’s choice. Chevella was then represented by Sabita Indra Reddy, whom YSR treated as a sister, and second, the Are Maisamma temple is located on the way to Chevella, and the goddess is considered to be highly powerful, bringing in victory to anyone who visits the temple. As a result, YSR used to conduct special poojas at the temple and then begin anything, resulting in his victory. It is now to be seen how victorious Sharmila will turn out to be.