In the volatile politics of the Telugu States, lineage often opens doors but does not guarantee longevity. Kalvakuntla Kavita in Telangana and Y.S. Sharmila in Andhra Pradesh are learning this the hard way.
Born into powerful political families, both women once operated comfortably within the established party structures. Today, each is attempting to chart an independent course after falling out with the very systems that nurtured them.
Kalvakuntla Kavita was once a central figure in the Bharatiya Rashtra Samiti (BRS). An IT professional who left her job in the United States to join the Telangana movement, she rose steadily through the ranks of the then Telangana Rashtra Samiti.
She has served as an MLA, MP, and later as an MLC from Nizamabad, and heads Telangana Jagruti, the organisation she founded to promote cultural and social causes.
Her political standing within the party, however, has sharply eroded. Kavita’s resignation as a Member of the Legislative Council was accepted on Tuesday by Council Chairman Gutta Sukhender Reddy, formally ending her association with the BRS. Soon after stepping out of the Telangana Legislative Council on Monday (January 6, 2025), she announced plans to float a new political party in the State.
‘We are going to form a political party in the State. It will create a lot of space for people who want to work on a democratic front, a forum. The BRS party, which we thought was our party, the Telangana people’s party, has betrayed us on a number of issues. It did not fulfil our aspirations,’ she said.
‘A question of self-respect’
In an emotional address, Kavita spoke of being marginalised within the party. Recalling the Bathukamma programme organised after the formation of Telangana, she broke down while alleging that restrictions were placed on her political activity and that party mouthpieces failed to support or highlight her initiatives.
She strongly rejected suggestions that her exit from the BRS was linked to a property or family dispute, insisting that her struggle was for self-respect and political space.
Her estrangement from the party has coincided with renewed political attacks. Kavita has been named as an accused in the Delhi excise policy case, allegations that the BRS leadership had earlier described as politically motivated.
In a marked shift, party leaders and members of the KCR family have since publicly distanced themselves from her, with accusations extending to alleged corruption and land-related issues in areas such as Shankerpalli. Kavita has consistently denied all allegations.
Despite the controversies, she has remained politically active, touring Telangana, raising local issues, and attempting to craft an image independent of the BRS and her family’s political shadow.
Sharmila’s journey from support to solo act
In neighbouring Andhra Pradesh, Y.S. Sharmila’s political life began as an extension of her loyalty to her brother, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. She stood by him during the Odarpu Yatra following the death of their father, former united Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and played a prominent role after Jagan’s arrest by the CBI in cases relating to allegations of disproportionate assets.
Over time, differences emerged. Citing a conflict of political interests, Sharmila floated the YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP), marking a clear break from her brother’s political path. The party initially planned to contest the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections but later withdrew from the fray, extending support to the Congress instead.
On January 4, 2024, the YSRTP was formally merged with the Congress, and Sharmila was appointed president of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee ahead of the 2024 general elections.
Opportunities and expectations
Since taking over as APCC chief, Sharmila’s public engagement has been measured. Her appearances on the ground have been relatively limited, drawing criticism from within political circles.
Yet, the post-election landscape presents her with an opening. With the YSR Congress Party weakened after the 2024 verdict and Jagan maintaining a low public profile, Sharmila has an opportunity to emerge as a visible opposition leader in Andhra Pradesh.
Fuel was added to speculation about the future of the Y.S. family in politics when Sharmila’s son, Raja Reddy, made his first public appearance alongside her at a Congress programme in Kurnool on September 8, 2025.
Parallel lives, divergent paths
Kavita and Sharmila reflect a larger political reality in the Telugu States, where even members of powerful families are compelled to fight for relevance once institutional support fades. Both have fallen out with dominant male figures within their families and parties. Both are now seeking to define themselves on their own terms.
Kavita has chosen to strike out alone, preparing to launch a new party and aggressively building a mass base well ahead of the next electoral cycle. Sharmila, in contrast, has opted for the organisational safety of the Congress, moving cautiously but with access to a national platform.
Whether independence or institutional backing proves more durable remains an open question. For now, the tale of these two sisters is less about inheritance and more about reinvention.
