Former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s daughter Sharmila will begin an arduous 3,000-km-long padayatra across the State on October 18.
In what is being compared as an exercise to emulate her father, who undertook a walkathon from Chevella to Icchapuram in Srikakulam during the summer of 2003, Ms. Sharmila will embark on a similar feat after paying respects to her father at Idupulapaya Estate on October 18 and continue until her brother Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy takes over, if and when he is released from jail.
Initially, Ms. Sharmila will cover Kadapa, Anantapur and Kurnool districts. In all, the six-month-long tour would take her round almost all the districts touching at least 125 constituencies before culminating at Icchapuram.
Christened ‘Maro Praja Prasthanam’, the mass contact programme would serve the twin purpose of highlighting failures of the State government and the Congress party’s alleged nexus with the TDP. It is also aimed at boosting morale of the party cadre.
Ms. Vijayamma said Jagan had planned the padayatra once he was out of jail. “As his bail was getting delayed and I am suffering from arthritis, Sharmila said she would take up the padayatra. I will be participating for two to three days in a week along with Jagan’s wife, Bharati,” she said.
She said the ongoing padayatra by TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu was no comparison to their latest effort, as the latter had lost all credibility and sincerity. She said the ‘Odarpu yatra’ will not be abandoned and vowed to cover all the three regions.
