Bathukamma Must Regain Its Role as a Movement, Says Kavitha

Telangana Rakshana Sena chief Kalvakuntla Kavitha participated in Bathukamma celebrations organised by students at Osmania University in Hyderabad and joined them in the festivities. Recalling the festival’s role in the Telangana statehood movement, she said Bathukamma should once again become a symbol of social change, equality, freedom and representation for all communities. She called for greater political participation for economically disadvantaged sections and said universities should become institutions that nurture future leaders. Kavitha also vowed to press the state government to release the ₹1,000 crore reportedly announced for Osmania University by the Chief Minister.

Kavitha raised concerns over inadequate campus facilities and faculty vacancies in universities, accusing both the previous BRS government and the current Congress government of neglecting higher education institutions. She apologised again for having been associated with the BRS government in the past and questioned the Congress over its promises on the Rohith Vemula Act and a job calendar. On electoral reforms, she argued that changing the Chief Election Commissioner alone would not be enough and called for systemic changes, including a return to paper-ballot elections instead of EVMs. She also urged the revival of student union elections, saying young people should emerge as leaders rather than remain followers.