HYDERABAD: Eyes moist, Telangana Jagruthi president and MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha on Monday said her outfit would contest the next Assembly elections in Telangana, likely in 2028 or 2029, signalling the launch of a new political platform in the state.
“My fight is about dignity. Not assets,” she told the Legislative Council, rejecting speculation that her differences with family members were linked to a share in property. She said her struggle was for self-respect and swore on God and her children to underline the point.
Attacking the BRS, the daughter of former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao accused the party of becoming a “political rehabilitation centre” for those who had betrayed the Telangana statehood movement. She alleged that the party leadership lacked constitutional spirit and described the party constitution as a “joke”.
Recalling her resignation on September 3, 2024, which was not accepted by Council Chairman Gutha Sukhender Reddy, Kavitha said she sought an opportunity to explain her decision and spoke in the House on Monday.
Recounting her political journey, she said she was suspended without notice or an explanation, alleging that a disciplinary panel was formed overnight for the purpose.
Targeted for raising public issues in party fora: Kavitha
“I could have legally challenged the suspension. I chose not to. It gave me relief to distance myself from the party,” she said, adding that the BRS could not tolerate internal questioning. She claimed she was targeted after raising concerns within the party over the removal of Dharna Chowk, arrests of farmers, corruption in major public projects, poor-quality construction works and the decision to rename the TRS as BRS.
Kavitha also spoke about the low representation of women in Telangana politics and called for genuine empowerment. She said she would return as a political force focused on students, the unemployed and women.
Criticising the previous BRS regime, she alleged that despite promises of a transparent Telangana, Andhra-based companies prospered while corruption continued. She accused the BJP of betraying the state by denying national project status, failing to honour bifurcation assurances, stalling the ITIR project and diverting investments elsewhere.
Saying she had fought the BJP consistently, Kavitha referred to ED and CBI cases against her over the past three years and her imprisonment, which she described as politically motivated. “I fought alone,” she said, appealing to people to support her as she charts a new political course.