Sharmila padayatra leaves an indelible footprint

The YSR congress president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's sister, Sharmila set out on her 'Maro Praja Prasthanam' padayatra on October 18, creating history of sorts. And today, her foot march enters 150th day and also touch the 2000 km milestone.

Perhaps for the first time in the history of post-independent India, a political leader and a woman at that has embarked upon a challenging mission of mass contact galvanizing the people of the state.
To date, no other youth leader except Jagan, has drawn the kind of crowds she has, wherever she has gone on her walkathon. Importantly, people who have been thronging her meetings and rallies have not been mobilised by the party workers. Rather, they have come forth of their own accord. Equally important is the fact that women of all ages have been attending her meetings in large numbers indicating the support of the fairer sex to the YSRCP.
It is important to bear in mind that the state has no prominent, active youth icon at this point barring YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and his sister Sharmila.
Today, youth constitute 60 per cent of India's population and can hardly find political leaders they can identify themselves with. In such a scenario, Jagan and Sharmila fill the void in Andhra Pradesh as no one else can.
Judging by the crowds at Sharmila's padayatra, the results of by-elections held last June and surveys conducted by reputed media houses, it is clear that the YSRCP is all set to storm the Congress citadel in AP in the next round of  general elections, whenever they are held.
For someone who is used to a life of ease and comfort to endure the rough day-to-day life in villages is certainly not a facile task. But Sharmila has continued her padayatra braving rains, and the heat and dust of the parched Rayalaseema region, taking everything in her stride. It must be remembered that she has to make do with the barest of facilities and minimal comforts—be it food or shelter.
In this historic mission, Sharmila has taken on her political opponents manfully and has widened the reach of the party.
While the popularity of the YSRCP continues to soar in popular imagination, it poses a major threat to all other parties as can be seen from the fact that it is attracting important leaders from across the political spectrum. Party workers in Congress and TDP feel that the YSRCP would be a safer bet today as opposed to their own parties and seem to repose greater faith in this fledgling party. Even as the YSRCP wings its way higher on the strength of Sharmila's padayatra and Jagan's charisma, the TDP and ruling Congress are getting jittery by the hour!
-Reshmi@Sakshipost