BRS leader K Kavitha with her brother and party leader K T Rama Rao.
Credit: PTI photo
The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), once a formidable and unified political force that led the Telangana statehood movement, now appears to be in the throes of an internal crisis.
A letter written by MLC and Telangana Jagruthi president K Kavitha — daughter of BRS chief and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) — has brought internal rifts and ideological discontent within the party into public view. Her ‘feedback’ letter, addressed to KCR, has ignited discussions about the BRS’ functioning and future. She also recently made an interesting statement that while the dream of a separate geographical Telangana has been realised, the promise of Samajika Telangana (Social Justice in Telangana) remains unfulfilled.
Internal democracy
Kavitha expressed concerns about the lack of internal democracy within the BRS, saying many leaders, including herself, were unable to reach out to KCR because a “few individuals have built a wall around the leader, isolating him from the cadre”.
Her criticism is unmistakably serious. By stating that "KCR is god, but some devils have surrounded him”, Kavitha underscored the internal power struggles and bureaucratic gatekeeping plaguing a party that was once rooted in mass participation.
Kavitha’s letter expresses concern over the neglect of leaders and activists who played a pivotal role in the Telangana statehood agitation. The BRS’ silver jubilee celebrations near Warangal, on April 27, were expected to honour this legacy. The event, according to Kavitha, failed do so. Many grassroots leaders also feel alienated by what they describe as a drift towards political elitism and electoral opportunism within the party’s upper echelons.
Kavitha’s most pressing criticism is the BRS’ failure to highlight issues of the Backward Classes (BCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), and minorities — communities that form the backbone of the party’s support base. She noted that in KCR’s Warangal address, neither was there a mention of 42% reservations for the BCs in local bodies, education, and employment, nor the issue of SC sub-categorisation.
As someone who has actively championed these causes through Telangana Jagruthi, Kavitha's frustration is palpable. Her efforts to mobilise the BCs and advocate for a caste census were not matched by the BRS’ political messaging.
Political signalling, BJP angle
Kavitha also questioned the party’s decision not to contest the recent MLC elections, which, she said, sent a confusing signal to the cadre. This, combined with KCR’s lack of critique against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in his Warangal address, has led to speculation about a potential political realignment.
Her observation that sections of the BRS base now view the BJP as a viable alternative is a wake-up call for the leadership. In a political environment where the Congress government is perceived to be losing ground, the BRS’ ideological ambiguity risks ceding space to rival parties.
Stand on social justice
More than any other BRS leader Kavitha has consistently championed the rights of students, women, farmers, the BCs, and SCs. A day before Rohith Vemula’s death in January 2016, she met with a group of student leaders and extended assurances of support. In the immediate aftermath of Vemula’s suicide, her Telangana Jagruthi team was visibly active in the protests. Yet, as the issue became politically charged, the team aligned with the party's decision to take a non-interventionist stance, resulting in a strategic silence from her side that disappointed many students.
However, Kavitha's recent political re-engagement, after her release from jail, has been marked by a renewed focus on issues of equity and representation. She has emerged as a prominent voice advocating for a caste census, and 42% reservations for the BCs in education, employment, and local bodies — a demand yet to be institutionally taken up by the BRS itself. Her proactive stance on gender and social justice has put pressure on both the BRS leadership and rival political formations to respond substantively to demands that are foundational to Telangana’s social fabric.
This emphasises Kavitha’s growing divergence from the BRS’ passive posture on core social justice issues, strengthening the argument that her concerns stem from ideological commitment rather than personal grievance.
Road ahead
Kavitha’s bold letter to KCR and recent activism have opened speculations about her political future. There are three options before her:
Stay within BRS and support KTR's leadership: The most likely scenario is that Kavitha chooses to remain in the BRS and play a key role in its leadership transition, akin to the role Kanimozhi plays in the DMK alongside M K Stalin. Here, Kavitha would work to rebuild trust with the cadre and expand her influence within the party’s social justice framework, potentially strengthening her brother K T Rama Rao’s leadership.
A new political outfit: Should the internal democratic deficit persist, and her concerns remain unaddressed, Kavitha could form a new political outfit. Such a platform — centred on social justice, youth, and BC empowerment — could galvanise sections of the electorate that feel increasingly alienated from both the BRS and the Congress. Her ‘Samajika Telangana’ narrative resonates with BC youth and activists. However, building a new political force would require significant resources, strong alliances, and a long-term strategy.
Join a national party: Given her past criticism of the BJP and the limited space for leadership in the Congress, Kavitha aligning with either national party would dilute her independent voice and regional identity. It would be politically incongruent with her long-standing advocacy for Telangana-specific issues, and KCR’s legacy. This remains the least likely option.
Much depends on how the BRS leadership reacts to her demands. If she plays her political cards correctly, Kavitha could become the first woman chief minister of a Telugu state. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether Kavitha is absorbed back into the BRS’ core leadership or emerges as a parallel pole in Telangana’s politics.
Kavitha’s letter may have been couched in familial and respectful tones, but it carries serious implications for the BRS. It is a call to return to the values of social justice, transparency, and grassroots democracy — principles that defined the Telangana movement. KCR and the BRS’ response will determine not just the party’s stability, but also its relevance in Telangana’s evolving political landscape.
(G Kiran Kumar, National President, All India OBC Students Association (AIOBCSA).)
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.