Silent Rebellions, Defection Dramas, and Cabinet Crossfires

Kavitha’s Power Play: A Lone Battle or a Silent Rebellion Within BRS?

Kalvakuntla Kavitha is back and focusing on backward caste rights in Telangana. She is a member of the BRS and president of Telangana Jagruthi. After being pushed aside in her party, she is making a strong effort for BC representation. However, the key question is: does she have her party’s support, or is she fighting alone?

Many believe that the Congress or BJP first raised the BC issue when the new government took charge, but it was Kavitha. In January 2024, she jumped in while other parties adjusted to the political changes. This was a strategic move. She has long supported BC empowerment, including backing the United Phule Front, but her party has not fully supported her. The BRS has kept her visible but not influential.

This issue goes beyond BC politics and concerns Kavitha’s role within the BRS. Although she is the party’s most well-known female leader, the BRS has never created a women’s wing. There has been resistance to giving her too much political power. Insiders say party leaders do not want another figure who could disrupt the current power structure, which mainly revolves around K.T. Rama Rao (KTR). This limits Kavitha’s ability to lead independently.

Kavitha stayed quiet for months after securing bail in the Delhi liquor scam case, but political insiders expected her to return. She is actively involved in BC politics and wants to lead the discussions. In Jagtial, she called for a mass movement for BC rights, comparing it to the Telangana agitation. She has criticized both Congress and BJP for neglecting BCs and failing to provide adequate representation.

However, her actions complicate things. Kavitha is not just making speeches; she is putting her party in a tricky position. She is demanding 42% reservation for BCs in local government, pushing for a caste census, and insisting on a statue of Jyotirao Phule in the Telangana Assembly. These demands are significant and challenge the BRS to respond.

The party is trying to avoid this. Even though BRS wants a strong public image, it has been careful about Kavitha’s approach. Her return has made some within the party uneasy, especially those wanting to maintain power. There is already tension about how much support she should receive. Some think she is using the BC issue to regain lost political ground, which does not sit well with senior leaders.

The party is watching her closely. If BC communities support her, the BRS will have to take notice. But if she does not gain traction, it will reinforce the idea that she is fighting without the party’s backing.

For now, she has made her move. Will the BRS support her efforts and let her lead, or will it continue to keep her in the background?

A Flurry of Calls Derails a Crucial Meeting

A secret strategy meeting for defected MLAs was planned to show unity. However, just hours before it was set to take place, unexpected phone calls disrupted everything.

A senior MLA from Hyderabad, facing charges for defecting, contacted nine other MLAs who had joined the ruling Congress party last year. These legislators recently received notices from the Telangana State Assembly Secretary, Dr. V. Narasimha Charyulu. The plan was to gather at the senior MLA’s house to discuss their legal defence and decide what to do next. However, things didn’t go as planned.

The night before the meeting, the MLAs received calls from someone claiming to be an “advisor to the government.” The message was clear: they should not attend the gathering. According to sources, the caller assured them that “plans were in place to ensure their positions were not disturbed.” This was an indirect threat, and it worked; one by one, the MLAs who intended to go suddenly cancelled.

By morning, it was clear that the meeting would not happen. The senior MLA, frustrated by unkept promises and his followers’ issues regarding land and settlements, felt betrayed again. He had taken the risk to defect, but the leadership that welcomed them seemed reluctant to support them.

The notices to these MLAs came from petitions filed by the BRS, asking the State Assembly Speaker G. Prasad Kumar to disqualify them under the anti-defection law. The defected MLAs must explain why they switched to the Congress party.

A State Legislature Secretariat official said the MLAs asked for time to respond to the notices. However, the pressure increases, making their uncertain positions more stressful daily.

The MLAs facing disqualification include Pocharam Srinivas Reddy (Banswada), Kale Yadaiah (Chevella), M Sanjay Kumar (Jagitial), B Krishnamohan Reddy (Gadwal), G Mahipal Reddy (Patancheru), T Prakash Goud (Rajendranagar), Arekapudi Gandhi (Serilingampally), Danam Nagender (Khairatabad), Kadiyam Srihari (Station Ghanpur), and Tellam Venkat Rao (Bhadrachalam).

Their reactions vary. Danam Nagender from Khairatabad said he had not received any notice yet. “I have not done anything wrong. I will respond appropriately if I receive a notice,” he stated. In contrast, Tellam Venkat Rao from Bhadrachalam confirmed he received the notice and would respond only after talking to his legal advisors.

The defected MLAs face legal challenges, political struggles, and a risky situation. The big question is whether they will be protected or sacrificed.

Telangana Cabinet Reshuffle: A Game of Promises, Power, and Political Crossfire

The much-anticipated reshuffle of the Telangana cabinet is still on hold. Over a dozen MLAs want one of six available positions, but delays are extending the process, and the competition is becoming more intense. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy recently visited Delhi and clarified that cabinet expansion is not planned anytime soon despite increasing speculation. However, insiders suggest that a complex power struggle is causing the hold-up.

Senior ministers and influential leaders are pushing for their preferred candidates in Telangana while working connections in Delhi. Each leader tries to present their list, making the expansion a political chess game where every move aims to build personal influence.

The current cabinet’s absence of representation for the Adilabad and Nizamabad districts increases the tension. Two MLAs from Adilabad are competing for the single available spot for their region, complicating matters even further. Political insiders say this standstill has delayed any final decisions.

Another complication is the rising demand for a backward caste leader to be appointed deputy chief minister. This shift towards backward caste politics has made the decision-making process even more sensitive. The Chief Minister faces pressure to balance demands from different regions, castes, and factions without upsetting party unity.

The upcoming local body elections add to the challenges. Revanth Reddy may hesitate to make significant changes before these elections to avoid internal conflicts that could harm the Congress party.

At least four MLAs who switched from BRS to Congress before the elections are now reaching out to senior leaders in Delhi. They remind them of “promises made but not kept,” claiming they were promised top positions for joining the party but are still waiting. Another key leader who helped Congress win is asking for his promised position.

The Chief Minister’s task is incredibly tough, with only six positions available and at least 15 strong candidates running. The reshuffle is not just about governance anymore; it’s become a struggle for power and influence.

The waiting game continues, but the question remains: for how long? This uncertainty keeps Telangana’s political circles anxious.