The marathon walk, Maro Praja Prasthanam, of YSR Congress Party trump card YS Sharmila has set a new record when her 3,112-km-long walk culminated at Padayatra Vijaya Vatika (memorial to YSR’s 1,500-km padayatra) here on Sunday.
Sharmila, who took the responsibility of building a strong foundation of YSR Congress party in the state after her brother and party president YS Jaganmohan Reddy had been arrested and remanded for 14 months.
Thousands of people across the region thronged the very small town that lies on the state’s border with Odisha. YSR Congress Party honourable president and Sharmila’s mother YS Vijayalakshmi was present at the event.
Sharmila began her padayatra at Idupulapaya in Kadapa district on October 18 last year and covered 2,250 villages in 116 Assembly constitutions in 14 districts in 230 days. During her marathon walk Sharmila raised her voice on local, state and national issues and politics. Though very new to politics, she emerged as a polished politician and gained knowledge of current affairs.
The party made elaborate arrangements for the concluding ceremony and built a pylon on the occasion. Since previous night thousands of party workers, followers and people from all the mandals in Srikakulam district and also from the neighbouring Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam came here to witness Sharmila’ record.
A large number of women attended the programme. The huge turnout surprised even the party leaders as it was beyond their expectations.
People accorded warm welcome to Sharmila and gave a big response when she spoke on key issues including state’s bifurcation. They responded well when she attacked TDP chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu and the Congress, and the nexus between the two major parties.
Sharmila and Vijayalakshmi announced that the YSR Congress Party stood for united Andhra Pradesh and would fight for the cause. They said their party MLAs were the first to resign immediately after the UPA and CWC decided to bifurcate the state.