{"id":10100,"date":"2025-09-03T17:45:56","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T17:45:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/03\/from-party-worker-to-key-leader-why-kavithas-two-decade-bond-with-brs-ended-politics-news\/"},"modified":"2025-09-03T17:45:56","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T17:45:56","slug":"from-party-worker-to-key-leader-why-kavithas-two-decade-bond-with-brs-ended-politics-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/03\/from-party-worker-to-key-leader-why-kavithas-two-decade-bond-with-brs-ended-politics-news\/","title":{"rendered":"From Party Worker To Key Leader: Why Kavitha&#8217;s Two-Decade Bond With BRS Ended | Politics News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"story-9547643\">\n<p><span class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-4143937483\">Last Updated:<\/span><time class=\"jsx-395e0e0beb19cb6e jsx-4143937483\">September 03, 2025, 23:02 IST<\/time><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"asubttl-9547643\" class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-420684539 asubttl-schema\">Through the Telangana Jagruthi, a cultural body linked to the BRS, Kavitha played a key role in the Telangana movement working to preserve the state&#8217;s culture and traditions<\/h2>\n<div class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 artsharwrp\">\n<div id=\"artshare\" class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 artshare\">\n<div class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 stickdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 deskwrapstkdiv\">\n<div class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 fontchange\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/english\/font.svg\" height=\"30px\" width=\"30px\" alt=\"font\" class=\"jsx-7dd6bcc4782610a2 lazyload\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-420684539 amimg\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Suspended BRS leader Kavitha addresses a press conference, in Hyderabad on September 3. (Image: PTI)\" title=\"Suspended BRS leader Kavitha addresses a press conference, in Hyderabad on September 3. (Image: PTI)\" src=\"https:\/\/images.news18.com\/ibnlive\/uploads\/2021\/07\/1627283897_news18_logo-1200x800.jpg?impolicy=website&amp;width=400&amp;height=225\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-420684539\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Suspended BRS leader Kavitha addresses a press conference, in Hyderabad on September 3. (Image: PTI)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p id=\"0\" class=\"story_para_0\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Everything unfolded as expected. A day after being suspended from the BRS, Kalvakuntla Kavitha \u2013 the daughter of former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao \u2013 resigned from both her primary membership and as an MLC.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"1\" class=\"story_para_1\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">For nearly two decades, Kavitha was an active member of the party. Through the Telangana Jagruthi, a cultural organisation affiliated with the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), she played a key role in the Telangana movement working to preserve the state\u2019s culture and traditions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"2\" class=\"story_para_2\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Starting as a grassroots worker, she rose to become the MP of Nizamabad in 2014. Though she lost the 2019 Lok Sabha election, she was later elected an MLC.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"3\" class=\"story_para_3\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">As KCR\u2019s daughter and the Nizamabad MP from 2014 to 2019, the 47-year-old leader gained recognition at the national level. Fluent in Telugu, English, and Hindi, she built strong relationships with leaders across parties and cultivated a positive image in Delhi.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"4\" class=\"story_para_4\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Yet, despite her political background, she ended up being suspended from the party bringing an end to a 20-year association. She has alleged that her relatives \u2013 former minister Harish Rao and ex-Rajya Sabha MP Santhosh Rao \u2013 conspired against her and forced her out. But her close associates have suggested deeper reasons.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>POLITICAL TARGETING &amp; DELHI LIQUOR SCAM<\/h4>\n<p id=\"5\" class=\"story_para_5\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Ahead of the previous election, the BJP \u2013 in power at the Centre \u2013 directly targeted KCR and the BRS.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"6\" class=\"story_para_6\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">In the process, Kavitha was implicated in the Delhi liquor scam and spent nearly five-and-a-half months in jail causing her severe mental distress. According to her associates, she felt she had been used as a pawn in the BRS-BJP political battle but never received recognition or reward in return.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"7\" class=\"story_para_7\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">While her brother KT Rama Rao, popularly known as KTR, was elevated as the working president and projected as the future chief minister of Telangana, she believed she was equally capable but sidelined. This reportedly created rifts within the family, especially between the siblings. A letter she wrote to their father, which was later leaked, even criticised KTR\u2019s leadership as the working president.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>THE LIQUOR SCAM BACKLASH<\/h4>\n<p id=\"8\" class=\"story_para_8\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Although Kavitha attempted to portray her arrest as political victimisation, the BRS leadership including KCR, strongly disapproved of her alleged links to the Delhi excise policy scam.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"9\" class=\"story_para_9\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Many within the BRS believe her arrest was a major reason behind the party\u2019s defeat in the 2023 assembly election. The opposition weaponised the issue, branding her as the \u2018Liquor Queen\u2019 during poll campaigns. This not only damaged the party image but also widened the distance between Kavitha and her family members.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>ALLEGATIONS OF RUNNING PARALLEL GOVT<\/h4>\n<p id=\"10\" class=\"story_para_10\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Despite holding only MP and MLC positions, Kavitha was accused of running a parallel power structure.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"11\" class=\"story_para_11\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Reports claim she frequently summoned MLAs, met ministers at her residence, dealt directly with contractors, and issued instructions to officials.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"12\" class=\"story_para_12\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Critics have said she ensured her close associates benefited from government projects. A senior BRS leader once told <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight:400\">News18<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight:400\">: \u201cEven without being a minister, Kavitha enjoyed greater financial benefits than anyone else in the party. She made significant gains in many ways.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>TELANGANA JAGRUTHI AND THE BATUKAMMA ISSUE<\/h4>\n<p id=\"13\" class=\"story_para_13\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Even during and after the Telangana movement, Kavitha continued to promote Telangana Jagruthi, especially through large-scale Batukamma festivals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"14\" class=\"story_para_14\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">These events gained national and international recognition for Telangana culture. However, some second-rung BRS leaders viewed them as rival or parallel party activity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"15\" class=\"story_para_15\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">A senior journalist close to Kavitha told <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight:400\">News18<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight:400\">: \u201cBatukamma events were Kavitha\u2019s idea. But when the publicity grew, KCR hijacked them and institutionalised them as government programmes. Saris were distributed in the name of Batukamma. The entire credit went to the government, even though it was Kavitha\u2019s initiative.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>THE LARGER PICTURE<\/h4>\n<p id=\"16\" class=\"story_para_16\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Beyond the controversies, there were many reasons for a poor performance by the BRS in the assembly and general elections \u2013 10 years of anti-incumbency, arrogance among leaders, and corruption allegations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"17\" class=\"story_para_17\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Yet, insiders said there was a smear campaign unfairly targeting Kavitha alone. For example, cracks had already developed in the Medigadda project but leaders deflected attention by blaming her arrest in the liquor scam. Harish Rao was reportedly the main strategist behind this campaign, which deeply hurt her.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"18\" class=\"story_para_18\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">Despite holding no official post in the BRS other than being an MP and MLC once, there was a narrative that KCR had stopped speaking to her. Her supporters have dismissed this saying her initiatives were often blocked due to internal pressure on KCR. They said while no action was taken against those who leaked her letter to KCR, she was instead suspended.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"19\" class=\"story_para_19\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\">After her resignation, Kavitha has accused Harish Rao and Santhosh Rao of conspiring against her. \u201cThey plotted to throw me out. I know everything. I only want to warn my brother KTR \u2013 be careful. In the last assembly election, Harish Rao even tried to defeat KCR in both Kamareddy and Gajwel,&#8221; she said, adding that she will announce her next political move after consulting the Jagruthi cadre and her well-wishers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>WHO ARE HARISH RAO AND SANTHOSH RAO?<\/h4>\n<p id=\"20\" class=\"story_para_20\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\"><strong>T Harish Rao:<\/strong> The nephew of KCR (his sister\u2019s son), Harish Rao has been with the BRS boss since the party\u2019s inception. In 2004, he was made a minister in the YS Rajasekhar Reddy cabinet (TRS, Congress coalition government) even before he became an MLA. Later, he won the Siddipet bypoll and has never lost an election since. He has served as minister for irrigation, health, and finance, and is considered one of the most active leaders of the party.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"21\" class=\"story_para_21\"><span style=\"font-weight:400\"><strong>Santhosh Rao:<\/strong> The son of Ravinder Rao \u2013 KCR\u2019s co-brother and a contemporary of KTR \u2013 Santhosh Rao has been closely involved with the BRS since the early days of the Telangana movement, managing KCR\u2019s internal political affairs. In 2018, he was nominated to the Rajya Sabha. He also oversees the family\u2019s media enterprises, including T-News, Namaste Telangana, and Telangana Today.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-420684539 brdcrmb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/\">News<\/a>  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/politics\/\">politics<\/a>  <span class=\"brdout\"> From Party Worker To Key Leader: Why Kavitha&#8217;s Two-Decade Bond With BRS Ended<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"coral-wrap\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f \">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coral-cont\">\n<div class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f coltoptxt\">Disclaimer: Comments reflect users\u2019 views, not News18\u2019s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/disclaimer\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Terms of Use<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/privacy_policy\/\" class=\"jsx-ba4d8f086a12294f\">Privacy Policy<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span class=\"jsx-ff263f4b724d470d jsx-420684539 rmbtn news18_read_more\">Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.news18.com\/politics\/from-party-worker-to-key-leader-why-kavithas-two-decade-bond-with-brs-ended-ws-l-9547643.html\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last Updated:September 03, 2025, 23:02 IST Through the Telangana Jagruthi, a cultural body linked to the BRS, Kavitha played a key role in the Telangana movement working to preserve the state&#8217;s culture and traditions Suspended BRS leader Kavitha addresses a press conference, in Hyderabad on September 3. (Image: PTI) Everything unfolded as expected. A day&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10101,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10100","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10100","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10100"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10100\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10100"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10100"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10100"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}