Published Feb 09, 2026 | 11:42 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 09, 2026 | 11:42 AM
Lok Sabha chamber of the new Parliament building. (Creative Commons)
Synopsis: A recent academic survey conducted by the Political Science Researchers Group of Telangana Universities rated the 17 Lok Sabha members from Telangana. First-time MP Kadiyam Kavya was ranked at the top, while several veteran leaders were ranked very low.
The Parliament of India has long been described as the “altar of democracy” — a sacred space where the quality of debate, mutual respect, and disciplined participation are expected to reflect the highest standards of public life.
A recent academic survey titled “Image Builders”, conducted by the Political Science Researchers Group of Telangana Universities, has thrown light on how faithfully the state’s 17 Lok Sabha members are living up to this ideal.
The study, involving 1,000 respondents from Political Science departments across various universities in Telangana, evaluated MPs strictly on five behavioural and substantive parameters:
Each parameter was scored out of 20, giving a maximum possible total of 100. The assessment drew from direct viewing of proceedings and credible media coverage of the 18th Lok Sabha sessions.
The most notable finding of the survey is the clear dominance of Dr Kadiyam Kavya, first-time Congress MP from Warangal. With an impressive score of 88/100, she stood head and shoulders above the rest of the field.
Respondents described her parliamentary conduct as:
Many called her performance an “ideal debut” and a model that new entrants should emulate.
The survey revealed a clear generational divide. Other first-time MPs followed close behind Dr Kavya:
Several BJP members were also placed in the comparatively better-performing category, particularly in the areas of discipline and subject command:
Lower in the ranking but still ahead of the bottom tier were:
In sharp contrast, several long-serving Congress MPs finished at the lower end of the spectrum, with scores mostly in the 45–55/100 range.
The names repeatedly mentioned in the bottom cluster include:
Respondents most frequently pointed to deficiencies in parliamentary decorum, restraint in language, and overall discipline as the main reasons for their low ratings.
Even more striking is the performance of Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM, Hyderabad), one of the most experienced and rhetorically prominent parliamentarians from Telangana.
Despite his long tenure in the House, he was outperformed overall by first-timer Dr Kadiyam Kavya — particularly in the parameters of language quality and adherence to decorum.
The Political Science Researchers Group of Telangana Universities, which conducted this independent exercise, has described the survey not as an attack on individuals but as a diagnostic mirror for the political class.
Their concluding observation is sobering: “The altar of democracy deserves builders who uphold dignity, knowledge, restraint and discipline in equal measure. When first-time members significantly outperform veterans on these very parameters, it is a signal that the current generation of representatives must reflect seriously on their conduct and contribution in the House.”
Whether this academic spotlight leads to introspection and course-correction among Telangana’s MPs — or whether it is dismissed as just another survey — will be evident in the months ahead.
For now, the message from the classrooms of Telangana is unambiguous: newcomers are setting higher standards of parliamentary behaviour, and the older guard is being harshly judged for falling short.
(The findings have been published with permission.)
