MLC Kavitha calls Nalgonda MLA Jagadish Reddy `Lilliput’, blames top party leader for derogatory campaign

Hyderabad: Internal crisis within the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) intensified on Sunday, with MLC K Kavitha publicly targeting senior party leader and Nalgonda MLA G Jagadish Reddy.

Kavitha accused certain "insiders" in the party of orchestrating a campaign to isolate her. She also accused the leaders of remaining silent over the vicious campaign and derogatory remarks made against her.

‘Lilliput’ jibe against Jagadish Reddy

In an unusually sharp personal attack, Kavitha referred to Jagadish Reddy as a “Lilliput,” accusing him of surviving solely in her father KCR’s shadow. “Who are you without KCR?” she asked, blaming Reddy for the party’s weakening presence in the Nalgonda district.

She also expressed outrage that Reddy, along with another “small-time leader” who joined the party later, was questioning her contribution and position in the party.

Insiders accused of fueling defamatory remarks

Kavitha alleged that a top leader within BRS was behind the derogatory comments made by suspended Congress MLC Chintapandu Naveen, also known as Teenmaar Mallanna. She questioned the silence of party leaders on the issue, saying it was indicative of internal sabotage.

“Some leaders stooped so low that they encouraged others to speak against me. But I believe in Karma. Their efforts to sideline me will not go unanswered,” she said.

BC Reservation Stir: Dharna plans await HC nod

Kavitha also spoke about her proposed 72-hour hunger strike demanding 42% reservation for Backward Classes (BCs) in education, employment, and local bodies. She said permission for the protest, to be held under the banner of Telangana Jagruthi, was still pending government approval.

She expressed hope that the High Court, which is set to hear the petition on Monday, would uphold her right to protest. “This hunger strike is based on Gandhian principles of peaceful resistance,” she said, adding that the dharna would allow representatives of 40 different BC castes each day to highlight their issues.

Hits out at Congress and BJP

Kavitha accused the Congress of double standards, questioning why its national leaders, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, had not raised the issue of BC reservations in Parliament if they truly supported the cause.

She also blamed the BJP-led Centre for stalling two Telangana government Bills that sought to enhance BC reservation to 42%.

KCR ‘Surrounded by Devils’, says Kavitha

This is not the first time Kavitha has aimed at her own party. Tensions have been simmering since a confidential letter she wrote to KCR was leaked earlier this year.

In the letter, she had described her father as a “god” but lamented that he was “surrounded by devils.” Since then, Kavitha has publicly criticized several senior leaders, including her brother and BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao.

The ongoing infighting has raised questions about unity within the BRS as it attempts to regroup following its electoral setbacks, political experts opined.

Jagadish Reddy responds on social media

In response, Jagadish Reddy took to X to respond to Kavitha’s accusations. Without naming her directly, he said he salutes her for her “understanding of his journey in the Telangana movement.” He also criticized her for allegedly echoing the words of the party’s political opponents.

Jagadish Reddy asserted that the very existence of any BRS leader is because of K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR). Responding to criticism over the party's defeat in the erstwhile Nalgonda district, he said he accepted responsibility for both victories and losses.

He further clarified that he had never brought up the issue concerning Ms. Kavitha during any of his discussions with KCR.