Bitter fight between KTR and Kavitha is hurting BRS; Harish Rao stands with KTR
C R Gowri Shanker Follow on Twitter| Published: 18th May 2025 9:41 pm IST
Hyderabad:
The Pink Party seems to be literally in Red.
Speculation is rife in
political circles that all is not well in Telangana Rashtra Samithi turned
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) founded by former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar
Rao, the man who got Telangana State after a bitter struggle.
KCR ruled Telangana State
for two terms from 2014 with an iron hand and continues to hold sway over the
party. But there seems to unease in the party, especially among family members.
Reason: The power
struggle between BRS working president K T Rama Rao and sister, Telangana
Jagruthi chief, MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha.
Though both maintain
studied silence on the subject, political circles are agog with stories of
strife within the family.
While father K
Chandrasekhar Rao maintains a muted silence in Erravalli farmhouse, former
Minister and the BRS literal backbone Thaneer Harish Rao came out in the open
and extended support to K T Rama Rao and is willing to work under him if he is
made party chief.
Harish support to KTR
“I have said this before
and I am reiterating it. As a disciplined party worker, I will wholeheartedly
welcome it if the party president entrusts KTR with leadership,” Harish Rao
remarked.
He added, “I have
remained loyal to the party and K Chandrasekhar Rao since its inception in
2001.”
This is not the first
time Harish Rao avowed loyalty to KCR and supported the elevation of KTR in the
party.
The statement triggered a
fresh wave of speculation in political circles that something is brewing in the
family and party.
Rumours are also agog
that Harish Rao was sidelined in the preparation for party silver jubilee
celebrations in Warangal.
Says Harish Rao,”
Compared to the government, there was more satisfaction during the T movement,
enjoying the role in the Opposition. It was a nightmare when we were in
government…can’t guess the questions that could be hurled at us. We are going
to the assembly well-prepared like school kids. We were accountable. We feared
the CM, people and the opposition.”
This is reminiscent of
Jagan, Sharmila feud
Some party leaders feel
the problem is between KTR and Kavitha, the latter seeking more say in the
party.
“There seems to be
trouble in the family like neighboring Andhra Pradesh’s Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy
and his sister Y S Sharmila, who parted ways after a bitter open feud,” says
another senior party leader.
Though there was a lot of
speculation after Rama Rao called on T Harish Rao at his residence, later it
was clarified that it was to inquire about the deteriorating health of Harish
Rao’s father Satyanarayana Rao. But rumour mills continue to spin stories
including KTR seeking his support.
KTR after KCR
While it’s a known fact
that KCR anointed Rama Rao for the political legacy, Kavitha demands her pound
of flesh and prominent role in the party saying she too had contributed for the
Telangana movement and in the formation of TRS government. But Harish Rao
remains in the backdrop and a backbone for the party.
In the recent public
meeting on the occasion of silver jubilee of formation of TRS turned BRS in
Warangal, KCR reportedly left the arrangements to local BRS leaders and put
KTR, Harish Rao and Kavitha in loop. There is another talk that Harish Rao was
ignored, which hurt the latter.
“Unlike in the past, KCR
did not discuss or ask the family members to make arrangements for the silver
jubilee meet. This was quite unusual given the past experience,” a senior BRS
leader said.
Kavitha comments trigger
speculation
But it was Kavitha’s
comments of late that triggered speculation in the pink party. First, she
alleged conspiracy against her within the party. Then she said, “Be brave.
Those who are threatening you, their names will be written in the Pink Book and
we won’t leave them. KCR Sir is a good person, but I am rowdy. We will not
leave at any cost….
While Kavitha seeks a
pivotal role and place in BRS, some party leaders feel that multi crore liquor
scam in which she is an accused and jailed had caused massive damage to the
party and in the elections.
“I told KCR not to come
to Tihar jail to visit me. In many situations I cried. Jail is a terrible
place. Six months in jail taught me that life is too short. Its harsh times and
even our enemies shouldn’t face it,” she said in an interview after release.
Social justice row
More recently she
triggered speculation that all is not well in the party for her too. She
alleged that some forces were spreading canards against her. She said while
Telangana achieved geographical statehood, the dream of a social Telangana
remains unfulfilled. She also demanded the statue of Jyotirao Phule in the
Assembly which was not done during TRS rule.
While Kavitha is caught
in the liquor scam and is on bail, K T R too is facing a string of cases filed
by Revanth Reddy government including the Formula E race case where the then
government and his department allegedly paid Rs 45 crore through HMDA to a
foreign company FEO in violation of RBI guidelines. There is also a phone
tapping case against their government.
While KTR has been heir
apparent after being named working president in 2018, Kavita is in no mood to
give up and asserts her position. Sandwiched between the three is Harish Rao,
KCR’s nephew and 7-time MLA from Siddipet, who remains the most popular leader
in BRS connecting all sections of party leaders, workers, and people.
Harish Rao’s open support
to KTR leaves Kavitha in a quandary.
KCR once told a TV
channel that he can prop up a family member or any other leader to some extent,
ultimately, he or she has to stand on his or her feet, build up reputation, and
earn the goodwill of people.
BRS is facing problems
like any other family-owned political enterprise in the country. All eyes are
on the Pink Party and family.
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