HYDERABAD: K. Kavitha, president of Telangana Jagruthi and daughter of former Telangana chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, on Saturday announced the launch of a new political party, the Telangana Rashtra Sena (TRS), marking a significant political shift in the state.
Unveiling the party at an event on the outskirts of Hyderabad, Kavitha outlined its agenda and launched a sharp attack on the ruling Congress, the BJP, and the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS), the party led by her father. She alleged that all three parties were plagued by corruption, favouritism and “family rule”.
The BRS was originally founded as the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) before being renamed in 2022 as part of KCR’s national expansion plans.
Kavitha also mounted a direct and personal critique of her father and senior BRS leaders, including her brother K. T. Rama Rao. She said KCR had, in recent times, lost touch with public issues and undergone a change in his political approach.
“We can understand if KTR speaks like that. He does not know much. But KCR says people made a mistake. Ok, let’s assume people made a mistake by not giving you power. As a mother, if my son makes a mistake, am I going to leave him? Am I not going to take care of him?” she said.
Explaining her decision to launch a new party, Kavitha said there was a vacuum in addressing people’s concerns, alleging that KCR had not responded adequately to key public issues during the current Congress government’s tenure.
She cited instances such as alleged house demolitions in Hyderabad and Khammam, flooding of agricultural lands during heavy rains, and a fatal road accident near Chevella, claiming that the former chief minister had remained silent on these matters.
“Even if there is a minor problem for people, that sir (KCR) won’t come. Because he is now a changed man, a mechanical man… I am saying this with anguish,” she said.
Kavitha also criticised KCR’s tenure as chief minister, saying he should have focused more on achieving the goals of the Telangana statehood movement, including “water, funds and jobs”, and completing key projects like the Palamuru-Rangareddy irrigation project.
She further alleged that the BRS lost its “mother-like nature” after coming to power and accused the party of ignoring corruption. Referring to the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project, she claimed that raising concerns over alleged irregularities had led to her expulsion from the party, while others involved were retained.
“That is not our KCR. The present KCR is a soulless mechanical doll. Had he been our (old) KCR, we would have touched his feet,” she said.
Targeting Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, she described him as “authoritarian” and criticised the state government over alleged demolitions, deaths of students in welfare institutions, and a custodial death of a Dalit youth.
Kavitha also attacked the BJP, alleging that the party had opposed the formation of Telangana and failed to uphold social justice. She referred to past remarks by BJP leaders on the state’s creation and challenged the party’s MPs from Telangana to address issues such as villages transferred to Andhra Pradesh during the bifurcation.
Outlining her party’s agenda, she announced “Panchajanya”, a set of five key promises, including free education and healthcare, free power and support for farmers, recruitment of four lakh jobs through a single notification, and a commitment to “social Telangana”, including 50% reservation for backward classes in MP and MLA positions.
She expressed confidence that her party would come to power after the 2028 Assembly elections.
Kavitha was suspended from the BRS in September 2025 after accusing party leaders, including T. Harish Rao and J. Santosh Kumar, of damaging KCR’s image in connection with the Kaleshwaram project. Since then, she has been active on public issues through Telangana Jagruthi, the cultural organisation she heads.
(With inputs from ENS and PTI)