K Kavitha’s exit from BRS shows that even in political families, it’s a man’s world

K Kavitha (left) and brother KT Rama Rao. (Source: File image)

'If speaking the truth comes at a cost, I am willing to pay that cost again and again for the people of Telangana. Truth alone prevails. Jai Telangana.'
Kalvakuntla Kavitha's tweet shows her determination. However, it also reveals a deeper issue: she, the daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister and Chief of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), and a key figure in the Telangana movement, has been sidelined from the family party.

Why It Happened

The BRS tolerated a lot before taking action against her. They ignored a leaked letter to her father, strange comments about 'devils' around him, and even her cheap joke about Jagdish Reddy’s height. But when she accused her cousins, Harish Rao and Santosh Kumar, of corruption in the Kaleshwaram project, she crossed a major line. Rao and Kumar were not just any politicians; they were family. By naming them, she made KCR choose between supporting her as a father and protecting his political career.
Her removal also hurt personally. She had already lost her position in the Singareni workers' union, been pushed aside during the BRS silver jubilee, and replaced in the party’s trade union arm.

The Personal Story

Her journey has been tough. At 26, she joined the Telangana movement, built a space through cultural outreach, and even won a seat in the Lok Sabha. However, she faced setbacks in 2019 with a defeat, the denial of a cabinet position, and arrests related to a liquor case. What hurt her the most was feeling abandoned. Despite her accusations against her cousins, the hardest part is that neither her father nor her brother supported her when she mentioned that the party was losing strength.
The memes highlight this situation. One shows a child writing 'I love my dad' on a car, with Kavitha’s face added. The car represents the BRS party symbol. The joke is harsh but fitting, as she tries to assert her position; she appears to be damaging the family legacy.

Explaining the Fallout

For the BRS, this situation can work against them. Kavitha's comments help their opponents. The Congress and BJP can now argue that they were right all along. Both parties campaigned in 2023, saying that Kaleshwaram was like an ATM for the ruling party. Now, an insider's confirmation supports their claims.
However, suspending her allows the BRS to shift from defence to offence. They can label her as bitter or compromised and even say she was influenced by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. By removing one of their own, they try to appear morally upright. This move may seem cynical, but it is also a smart political strategy.

Who Stands to Gain?

Congress will reference her but will not seek her support. Revanth Reddy knows her ongoing legal issues could hurt his message. The BJP's silence speaks volumes. After she accused them of causing her jail time, they see no reason to offer her any help.
Within the BRS, the leadership is clear: KTR will be the heir, Harish Rao is the trusted deputy, and the others are just functionaries. Kavitha's fall confirms what many thought: this is a one-way succession, not a competition.

What Next for Kavitha?

Kavitha has limited options. Congress is not a choice; the BJP is closed off, and staying quiet on the sidelines usually doesn't help. The only real option is to start a party focused on Telangana Jagruthi. However, without strong leaders or a dedicated team, it might end up being just a pressure group.
She is not the first political daughter to feel left out after someone else takes over. The comparison to Sharmila, sister of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, is interesting. Both women were sidelined by their brothers and cousins who took control of succession. They both felt they deserved a bigger role. However, there are also clear differences. Sharmila's conflict with Jagan was about property, while Kavitha's conflict was about politics, succession, recognition, and legacy. This makes her departure more harmful to the BRS brand, as it shows that even the 'family first' system faces disagreement from within.

Can she be a political martyr? It's unlikely. Martyrs need followers. Without a group, she is more useful to Congress and the BJP as a topic of discussion than as a partner.
Kavitha's departure shows both the strength and weakness of the BRS. It is strong enough to remove a family member but vulnerable enough that her claims will be remembered for a long time.

Kavitha's exit highlights a broader issue in Indian dynastic politics. Women rarely inherit power. Brothers and cousins stick together, fathers turn a blind eye, and the woman who once led is left out in the cold.

It remains to be seen whether Kavitha can recreate her image or if she will fade away like Sharmila. However, her downfall has already given a harsh judgment on the BRS, a party that started with the people’s movement but is now caught in family conflicts.