There is news circulating in the media that the former president of the Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, and her son Rahul Gandhi, are likely to visit Idupulapaya in Kadapa district on July 8 to pay homage to the late Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy.
According to the report, they are also expected to meet Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy's widow, Y. S. Vijayamma, on the same day before leaving for Delhi. Additionally, the report suggests that YSRTP president Y. S. Sharmila is likely to join her mother in the meeting.
If this news is accurate, it indicates that the Congress leaders have realized their mistake of distancing themselves from Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy's family after his death. They would also need to apologize for subjecting the family to public scrutiny and sending Dr. Rajasekhara Reddy's son to jail.
Only through such an apology would the people of Andhra Pradesh, and to some extent Telangana, be willing to accept the Congress leadership.
Furthermore, it is widely speculated that Sharmila is planning to merge her party with the Congress and may receive a Rajya Sabha ticket from the neighboring state of Karnataka.
Reportedly, Karnataka Congress leader D. K. Shivakumar has facilitated this agreement and is also expected to join the Y. S. family at Idupulapaya on July 8, along with Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.
However, it remains uncertain whether the people of Andhra Pradesh, and possibly Telangana, would accept Sharmila's return to Sonia and Rahul.
The realization of this news as reality or mere speculation is yet to be seen.
