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Kalvakuntla Kavitha
Indian politician (born 1978) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Kalvakuntla Kavitha (born 13 March 1978) is an Indian politician who serving as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) from Nizamabad since 2020. Earlier she served as a Member of Parliament from Nizamabad Lok Sabha Constituency from 2014 to 2019. She is the daughter of former Chief Minister of Telangana, K. Chandrasekhar Rao.
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Earlier she was a member of Bharat Rashtra Samithi party, she was suspended from BRS on 2 September 2025 for ‘anti-party activities’.[1][2]
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Early life and education
Kalvakuntla Kavitha was born in Karimnagar to K. Chandrashekhar Rao and Shobha. Her father is leader of Telangana Movement and first chief minister of Telangana state. Her father is from Chinthamadaka village in Siddipet District, Telangana.
She completed her bachelor’s degree in Engineering from VNR Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad. She did her master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Southern Mississippi, United States.
K. Kavitha is married to Devanapalli Anil Kumar, a businessman. They have two sons.[3]
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Professional Career
Kalvakuntla Kavitha began her professional journey as an IT professional in the United States, where she worked in the technology sector after completing her Master’s degree in Computer Science. Her experience abroad provided her with valuable global exposure and professional insight, shaping her worldview and deepening her understanding of international systems and governance. Despite being miles away from home, Kavitha remained deeply connected to her Telangana roots. The growing momentum of the Telangana statehood movement inspired her to return to India and actively contribute to the region’s social and political transformation.[3]
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Transition to Public Life
While living abroad, Kalvakuntla Kavitha remained closely connected to developments in her homeland and became increasingly aware of the growing Telangana statehood movement, spearheaded by her father, K. Chandrashekar Rao. This deepening sense of connection and purpose inspired her to return to India and play an active role in the movement.
Upon her return, Kavitha dedicated herself to the cause of Telangana, mobilizing youth, women, and cultural groups to build widespread awareness and unity. Her efforts marked the beginning of her transition from a professional career to public life, rooted in her commitment to social justice, cultural revival, and regional empowerment.
Social and Cultural Leadership
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In 2006, Kalvakuntla Kavitha founded Telangana Jagruthi, a cultural and social organization dedicated to promoting Telangana’s unique identity, rich traditions, and native language. Through this platform, she organized cultural programs, literary events, and awareness campaigns that played a crucial role in strengthening the Telangana movement at the grassroots level.[4]
In 2008, Kavitha collaborated with historians and archaeologists to initiate efforts aimed at restoring and preserving the historical legacy of the Telangana region. One of her first major initiatives was the conservation and excavation of the Koti Lingala Temple, a sacred site spanning over 40 acres, believed to be one of the earliest Shiva temples in the region—bearing more than a thousand years of historical significance.[4]
Continuing her cultural mission, in 2009, Kavitha brought the vibrant Bathukamma festival—an emblem of Telangana’s cultural identity—to the national stage by organizing celebrations in New Delhi. That same year, she took the festival to the global arena by hosting celebrations in Dubai, transforming Bathukamma into an international cultural event that connected the Telangana diaspora with their heritage.
In 2010, Kavitha visited the Chenchu tribe, an indigenous community residing deep within the Nallamala Forest. During her visit, she strongly opposed deforestation and mining activities in this ecologically sensitive region, advocating for the protection of tribal livelihoods and the preservation of Mother Nature.[4]
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Career
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After her marriage, in 2003, Kavitha moved to the US with her husband and returned to India in 2006. In 2014, the new state of Telangana was carved out of Andhra Pradesh and Kavitha's father was the leader of the movement for statehood. In the election of May 2014, her father's party swept the Telangana seats both for the state assembly and the national parliament and her father became the first Chief Minister of Telangana. She lost Lok Sabha election 2019 from Nizamabad to a BJP candidate Dharmapuri Arvind.
Early public life
In 2006, the Telangana movement got a fresh impetus with the resignation of its leader K Chandrashekhar Rao from the Union Cabinet to express his strong dissent with the Central Government for going back on the promise of Telangana State formation.
This inspired the people from Telangana, who left their careers to join the movement. Motivated by the commitment and sacrifices made by the movement's leader and others who joined the movement, Kavitha actively participated in the people's movement.[citation needed]
Telangana Jagruthi
Drawing Inspiration from the ongoing people's movement for the statehood of Telangana and a strong desire to work for the welfare of the people, led Kavitha to the formation of Telangana Jagruthi in August 2006. However, the organization was formally registered in November 2007. The word Jagruthi means Awakening. Awakening the Telangana society to a renewed sense of pride & unity was the goal.[5]
Telangana Jagruthi played a key role in mobilizing the support of women and youth and also large sections of the society which acted as a force multiplier in the peaceful and non violent struggle for Telangana Statehood.[5]
K. Kavitha took an initiative to skill the youth of Telangana for making them ready for the gainful employment.[6] Currently Telangana Jagruthi Skill Centers are imparting training to 8500 students across Telangana and assist them in placements.
Labour and Trade Unions
Kavitha is actively involved in labour and trade unions. Currently she serves in the following Labour and Trade Unions.
- Honorary President - Telangana Rashtra Vidyut Karmika Sangham - TRVKS - Electricity Employees Union.
- Honorary President - Telangana Anganwadi Workers and Helpers Association - TAWHA - An organization of Anganwadi workers.
Bharat Scouts and Guides
K Kavitha has been elected the first state chief commissioner of Telangana chapter of Bharat Scouts and Guides (BS & G) Association. She formally took charge at the investiture ceremony held at the BSG state headquarters at Domalguda.[7]
Hindu Mazdoor Sabha
Kavitha was elected as honorary president of Hindusthan Mazdoor Sabha - HMS (The Singareni Miners and Engineering Workers’ Union) in 2025.[8]
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Political career
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After the formation of Telangana state in 2014, Kavitha contested general elections from Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency and won with over 164,184 vote majority. She took active leadership in the protests and demonstrations that were organized in support of the statehood movement all across Telangana.[citation needed]
As an MP, in Parliament and public life, Kavitha supported the cause of Telangana as well as other national issues.[citation needed] Kavitha once again contested as an MP in the 2019 Indian general election from Nizamabad. She lost to Dharmapuri Arvind with a margin of 70,875 votes.
Kavitha is elected as Member of Legislative Council from Nizamabad Local Authorities' Constituency in October 2020 in the bypoll, which was held after the disqualification of the then sitting member R. Bhoopati Reddy. Kavitha had secured 728 votes out of the total 823.[9] Kavitha was elected unopposed from Nizamabad Local Authorities constituency in the biennial polls to the Telangana Legislative Council held in December 2021 for the second time.[10] She took oath as MLC on 19 January 2022.[11]
Parliamentary Committee
In the Parliament, Kavitha is a member of the Estimates Committee, the Standing Committee on Commerce and also on the Consultative Committee, Ministry of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking water and Sanitation.[12][13]
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
Recently, Kavitha has been nominated to the Steering Committee of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) India Region. Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians works for increasing the women representatives in Parliaments.[4]
Parliamentary Delegation
Kavitha has traveled to many countries and officially she was a part of the Vice President's Delegation to Cambodia and Laos as well as with Lok Sabha Speaker's delegation to the European Parliament to Brussels, Belgium.[14]
Rift with party
In May 2025, a private letter to K. Chandrasekhar Rao in which Kavitha alleged conspiracies in the party against him was leaked to press after which there were differences between her and the party members including with her brother K. T. Rama Rao. She later denied these and called them "rumors". In July 2025 she was allegedly sidelined by KTR in the appointment of the party's in-charge for a Coal Miner's union. [15]
Reports of differences were continuously denied by both her and her party members.
In September, after the Ghose report on irregularities in Kaleeshwaram irrigation project was made public and the subsequent direction of the state government to launch of investigation into it by the CBI, she lashed out on Harish Rao, her cousin and the then irrigation minister of the state. On 2nd September 2025, the disciplinary committee of the party suspended her for anti-party activities in a letter signed by KCR.[16] After her suspension, she resigned from the party membership and also tendered her resignation as an MLC on 3 September 2025 [17][18] and yet to be accepted by the Hon’ble Chairman.
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Jagruthi Janam Bata
Kalvakuntla Kavitha has initiated a programme to travel across the telangana from 25 October 2025 to 13 February 2026 by interacting with intellectuals, educationalists, and caste organizations to discuss the way forword for her movements towards a 'Social Telangana'.[19]
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Suspension from Bharat Rashtra Samithi
On September 2, 2025, K. Kavitha was suspended from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) by party president K. Chandrashekar Rao, her father and the former Chief Minister of Telangana. The suspension followed her public allegations against senior BRS leader and cousin T. Harish Rao, whom she blamed for the federal investigation targeting KCR. In an official statement, party leaders cited her recent comments and activities as "anti-party" and damaging to the BRS.[18][20]
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Key Initiatives
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Women’s Reservation Bill: Kavitha held a round table conference in New Delhi at Hotel Le Meridian on 15 March 2025 demanding instant introduction of the Women's Reservation Bill in the current session of Parliament.[21] Earlier she protested a day-long hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on 10 March 2025.[22]
Round Table Conferences: Kavitha held over 20 major round table conferences across the state, engaging with all BC groups to explain the importance and benefits of reservation. These meetings also aimed to mobilize support and pressurize both the state and central governments.[23]
72-Hour Hunger Strike: Kavitha launched a 72-hour hunger strike demanding the 42% BC reservation on 4 August 2025 at Dharna Chowk. She called off her proposed 72-hour hunger strike that began at 10 am morning as the police denied permission for her protest after 4 pm.[24][25] Indian National Lok Dal leader Arjun Singh Chautala attended the dharna and extended his support to Kavitha.
Political Engagement: Kavitha met with Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale, along with numerous local and national party representatives, urging them to expedite the bills passed by the Telangana Assembly concerning BC reservations. She requested the Union Minister to support the cause and push for early approval.[26][27]
Rail Roko Protest: In June–July 2025, Kalvakuntla Kavitha has announced a state-wide Rail Roko protest on July 17, demanding the Central government to approve the bills passed by Telangana Assembly for providing 42 per cent reservations to Backward Classes (BCs) in local bodies, education and employment.[28][29]
Controversies
In 2023, Kavitha has been accused of being involved in the Delhi liquor scam. She has been questioned and investigated by Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding her role in the scam.[30][31][32] She was arrested by the ED on 15 March 2024 in connection with the liquor scam.[33]
On 26 March 2024, Kavitha was sent to judicial custody for 15 days in Tihar Jail.[34][35]
On 11 April 2024, she was again arrested by the CBI in Tihar Jail and was released on bail on 27 August 2024.[36][37]
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Elections contested
Lok Sabha
Telangana Member of Legislative Council
- Member of Legislative Council, Nizamabad Local Authorities' Constituency (First term) - 2020-21
- Member of Legislative Council, Nizamabad Local Authorities' Constituency (Second term) - 2021–25
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References
External links
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