Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha
Credit: PTI File Photo
Hyderabad: The opposition BRS suspended MLC K Kavitha from the party on Tuesday, citing anti-party activities. The suspension order came a day after Kavitha, who had recently returned from a 10-day tour of the USA, launched a scathing attack on her cousins former Irrigation Minister T Harish Rao and former Rajya Sabha member Joginapally Santosh Rao.
Kavitha termed her cousins "anacondas of corruption," alleging they amassed wealth through the Kaleshwaram project while making her father, party patriarch K Chandrasekhar Rao, a scapegoat. Her comments came in the wake of the Telangana government's decision to order a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project.
"Does Harish Rao not have any role in the Kaleshwaram project? Harish Rao, Santosh and another contractor colluded to amass assets and resources when KCR was working hard to bring water to Telangana. It was precisely why KCR removed Harish Rao as irrigation minister in the second term," Kavitha said on Monday. She alleged that Harish Rao and Santosh were responsible for tarnishing KCR's image.
Until now, Kavitha had refrained from naming anyone publicly since May, when she referred to "demons" and "coverts" surrounding her father and began distancing herself from party activities.
"The recent behavior and ongoing anti-party activities of party MLC Mrs K Kavitha are damaging the BRS party. The party leadership is taking this matter seriously. Party president K Chandrasekhar Rao has decided to suspend Kavitha from the party," the BRS said in an official statement.
While a section of BRS attributed the family rift to Congress manipulation, the Congress countered that it stemmed from internal disputes over asset and property distribution within KCR's family.
KCR reportedly sought feedback from several senior party leaders and assessed various equations from both party and family perspectives before deciding to suspend his daughter. He also instructed party members not to launch personal attacks against Kavitha.
Sources suggest KCR is testing the waters with this suspension. If Kavitha launches further broadsides against the party, he may not hesitate to dismiss her entirely from the BRS.
Since May, Kavitha has been organizing independent programmes under the slogan "Samajika Telangana," which have seen notably sparse attendance from BRS cadres and leaders. She has also been strengthening "Telangana Jagruthi," a socio-political organization she founded years ago.
Following her release on bail after spending over five months in Tihar jail for her alleged role in the Delhi liquor scam, Kavitha has been attempting to reposition herself within Telangana's political landscape. This comes even as her brother KT Rama Rao and cousins have already cemented their positions in the party founded by her father.
A six-page handwritten letter from Kavitha to KCR dated May 2, which surfaced on social media, created significant political stir. In the letter, she made pointed observations about the party's functioning and questioned her father's leadership style, particularly his perceived "soft stance" toward the BJP and issues of "selective access" to party leaders.
Kavitha urged the BRS supremo to convene a two-day plenary session to listen to grassroots voices and re-energize the cadre. "Kindly reach out to everyone," she advised KCR. It was from that day onwards that she was sidelined in the party.
Immediately following her suspension, BRS supporters at various party offices began removing Kavitha's pictures, banners, and flex displays. Sources suggest she may resign as MLC and launch a new regional party.
While Kavitha had been maintaining distance from party activities and conducting her own programmes, Monday's direct accusations against Harish Rao and Santosh proved to be the final trigger for her suspension. KCR and other party leaders felt that disciplinary action was necessary to prevent sending the wrong signal to the party cadre.