Kavitha’s sidelining, coupled with her subtle but pointed criticism of the leadership, may embolden other dissenting voices within the party.
Published Aug 21, 2025 | 3:54 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 21, 2025 | 3:54 PM
BRS MLC K Kavitha.
Synopsis: With the BRS struggling to regroup after its electoral defeat, the party is under pressure to consolidate its base among workers and rural communities.
In a sign of deepening crisis in the BRS, MLC Kavitha Kalvakuntla has been removed as honorary president of the Telangana Boggu Gani Karmika Sangham (TBGKS). She has been replaced by former Telangana minister Koppula Eshwar.
Kavitha termed her ouster as a “political conspiracy” hatched by the BRS.
This comes against the backdrop of her growing differences with the BRS leadership, raising questions about internal discord within the party and Kavitha’s future role in it.
Koppula Eshwar was appointed as the new TBGKS honorary president at Telangana Bhavan on Wednesday, 20 August in the absence of Kavitha. It’s reported that the BRS MLC was abroad when the event took place, and the “unceremonious removal” has upset her.
Kavitha, in her open letter, questioned the legality of conducting such an election at the party office, calling it a violation of labour laws. She alleged that the move was politically motivated, which reflected an internal power struggle.
In an open letter to the members of the TBGKS on Thursday 21 August, she said: “When I was abroad, the TBGKS central committee meeting for the election of new honorary president was convened in violation of labour laws. Having said that, I will always remain a member of every worker’s family,” she assured Singareni workers.
Kavitha, a former MP and daughter of party supremo K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), has been closely associated with TBGKS for the past decade. In an open letter to coal mine workers across four districts of Telangana on Thursday, 21 August, she expressed anguish over the way she had been removed.
She recalled recent incidents that deepened her concerns. Kavitha said that a private letter she had written to KCR conveying public feedback on the BRS’ silver jubilee celebrations was deliberately leaked to the media while she was abroad.
She claimed that ever since she demanded action against those responsible, certain forces within the party had been targeting her for highlighting lapses in its functioning. These “conspirators,” she alleged, continued to create hurdles for her.
Kavitha’s differences with the BRS have been simmering for some time. Her decision to openly question the handling of internal matters, such as the silver jubilee event, is said to have irked senior leaders.
The leaked letter issue, which she believes was a calculated attempt to undermine her, only widened the gap. Her latest letter indicates that she views the attacks on her as an effort to weaken the unity of Singareni workers— a constituency she has served for over a decade.
The timing of her removal is seen as crucial. With the BRS struggling to regroup after its electoral defeat, the party is under pressure to consolidate its base among workers and rural communities. Kavitha’s sidelining, coupled with her subtle but pointed criticism of the leadership, may embolden other dissenting voices within the party. The leaked letter controversy and her allegations of conspiracies are seen as deeper fissures within the party.
Kavitha, nonetheless, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve as TBGKS honorary president. She was unanimously elected to the post on August 17, 2015, at a general body meeting in Kothagudem attended by over 1,000 members from 11 areas.
Senior leaders including then-President Kanakaraju, General Secretary Miryala Rajireddy, Working President Enugu Ravinder Reddy, and veteran leader Kengerla Mallayya endorsed her leadership at the time.
During her tenure, Kavitha emerged as a strong advocate for Singareni workers’ welfare. She played a key role in mobilising them during the Telangana statehood movement and later championed their causes, securing notable gains.
Among her achievements was the reinstatement of dependent employment schemes under compassionate appointments, through which 19,463 youth secured jobs in Singareni.
Whether Kavitha’s exit from TBGKS weakens or strengthens the BRS remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly opens a new chapter in Telangana’s shifting political landscape.
(Edited by Amit Vasudev)
