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Firing yet another salvo at the Bharat Rashtra Samithi headed by her father K Chandrasekhar Rao, Telangana Jagruti president Kalvakuntla Kavitha on Friday described the BRS as an “anti-backward classes” party, as it has fielded Buttangari Madhav Reddy in the municipal elections, though he had opposed the 42% BC quota.
Addressing the media, Kavitha said BC organisations, including Telangana Jagruti, had been fighting for 42% reservations for BCs in education, employment and political representation.
Sustained protests and pressure on the government had eventually led to the introduction of a Bill proposing 42 percent reservations for BCs, he said.
“However, Buttangari Madhav Reddy and another individual filed a petition against the reservations which led to the court stalling the quota. Now the BRS has given a ticket to the same person in the municipal elections,” she said.
Kavitha questioned whether the BRS itself was behind the petition filed against BC reservations and accused the party of lacking sincerity towards the welfare of BC communities.
“Does this mean the BRS orchestrated the case? Is the party opposed to BC reservations?” she asked.
She alleged that Madhav Reddy was close to senior BRS leader T Harish Rao and claimed that the petition had been filed through Harish Rao’s personal lawyer.
“Initially I thought only Harish Rao was behind this move. But now that the BRS has given him a ticket, it appears the entire party stands behind him,” she said.
Kavitha further criticised the decision to field a candidate who, according to her, attempted to obstruct reservations for BCs who constitute nearly 56 percent of Telangana’s population.
“How can a ticket be given to a person who tried to snatch opportunities from BCs?” she questioned.
She alleged that the BRS had not acted with integrity on BC issues and had failed to hold internal party discussions on the matter, instead organising meetings only under the banner of BC public representatives’ forums.
She also accused the party of creating confusion over caste census issues before later demanding a fresh enumeration.
She urged BC communities across the state to carefully observe the BRS’s stance on the issue.
She also revealed that Madhav Reddy had earlier been associated with Telangana Jagruti until 2010 and later parted ways to pursue community-based activism.
“Telangana Jagruti is a 20-year-old organisation that has produced many leaders. Madhav Reddy later joined hands with the BRS,” she said, alleging that he had been misled into filing the case.
Kavitha demanded that the BRS explain to the public why it had given a party ticket to Madhav Reddy.
“By giving him a ticket, the BRS has effectively endorsed a person who tried to deprive BCs of their rightful share,” she added.
