Hyderabad, Dec 27 (NationPress) The year 2025 has proven to be a tumultuous one for Telangana's principal opposition party Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), with its senior leaders embroiled in investigations over alleged corruption.

The departure of K. Kavitha from BRS, following a family feud involving party chief and former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), has triggered the most significant crisis for the party since its defeat to Congress in 2023.

K. Kavitha, KCR's daughter, openly rebelled against his close associate and nephew T. Harish Rao and others after her letter was leaked, leading to her suspension and resignation from the party, causing shockwaves in political circles.

This marked the first public challenge to KCR, who has held a firm grip on the party since its inception in 2001, when he sought to revive the Telangana statehood movement.

Interestingly, this turmoil arose shortly after BRS celebrated its 25th anniversary with a grand public gathering in Warangal district on April 28.

During this celebration, KCR launched a fierce critique of the Congress administration for failing to fulfill promises, expressing optimism that BRS would reclaim power in Telangana. This event was KCR's first public appearance after his party's disheartening loss in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, signaling that under his leadership, the BRS aimed for a comeback.

However, mere days later, BRS was rocked by an unexpected internal crisis. A confidential letter from Kavitha to KCR, highlighting various issues, emerged online, igniting controversy.

Kavitha accused those close to KCR of leaking the letter, stating, "KCR is a god who is surrounded by devils."

Initially, her criticism was directed at her cousin and former Rajya Sabha member J. Santosh Kumar. Later, she claimed that a segment of BRS leaders was to blame for her defeat in Nizamabad during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

She further alleged that efforts were underway to transfer control of BRS to the BJP, asserting that this proposal arose while she was imprisoned in connection with the Delhi liquor policy case, which she vehemently opposed.

Kavitha's assertion that KCR is her sole leader was interpreted as an indirect jab at her brother and BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao (KTR), who is often seen as KCR's successor.

The former MP also suggested that there were attempts to alienate her from her family and BRS. Kavitha embarrassed the BRS by organizing public demonstrations on various issues through Telangana Jagruthi, a cultural organization she established during the Telangana movement.

As the sole female politician from the KCR family, Kavitha reacted with fury when she was removed as the Honorary President of Telangana Boggu Gani Karmika Sangham (TBGKS), a coal mine workers' trade union she had led for a decade.

She challenged the election of former Minister Koppula Eashwar as the new Honorary President of TBGKS and questioned the legitimacy of the election conducted at the BRS headquarters, Telangana Bhavan.

This incident unfolded while she was visiting the United States. Upon her return on September 1, Kavitha launched a public attack on her cousin and former Minister T. Harish Rao, another cousin J. Santosh Kumar, and former MP Megha Krishna Reddy, accusing them of being responsible for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe instigated against KCR for alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project.

Hours after Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced in the Assembly that the CBI would investigate the alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project established under the BRS government, K. Kavitha placed blame on Harish Rao, Santosh Kumar, and Megha Krishna Reddy for KCR's being 'framed' in the P. C. Ghose Commission inquiry related to the Kaleshwaram project.

She asserted that these individuals committed numerous 'wrongdoings' to damage KCR's reputation. Kavitha even claimed that Harish Rao's dismissal as Telangana's Irrigation Minister during BRS's second term was a consequence of his involvement in the Kaleshwaram irregularities.

Kavitha's explosive statements, even while defending her father, were interpreted as a 'confession' when KCR and Harish Rao sought the High Court's intervention to quash the Ghose Commission report, which had implicated them.

In response, KCR promptly suspended Kavitha for actions deemed detrimental to the party. The following day, she resigned from BRS and also stepped down as a Member of the Legislative Council. Currently, Kavitha is on a four-month-long mass outreach tour across the state, announcing that Telangana Jagruthi will participate in the 2029 elections.

K. Kavitha's situation has provided fodder for the Congress and BJP to criticize BRS and KCR. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy claimed that the rift within the KCR family stemmed from issues regarding 'dividing the spoils' among family members.

Revanth Reddy has also kept the heat on KCR, KTR, and Harish Rao through a series of inquiries against them. Following an extensive debate in the Assembly regarding the Ghose Commission report, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy declared that the case concerning alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project would be handed over to the CBI.

He accused former CM KCR and former Irrigation Minister Harish Rao of misappropriating public funds amounting to Rs 1 lakh crore while then Finance Minister Eatala Rajender (now part of BJP) remained silent.

The Ghose Commission held KCR directly and indirectly responsible for the irregularities and illegalities in the planning, construction, completion, operation, and maintenance of three barrages. It also implicated several officials, including IAS officers and engineers.

Last month, Governor Jishnu Dev Varma approved the prosecution of KTR in the Formula E race case. This decision followed two months after the state government sought the Governor's permission to prosecute the former Minister over allegations of misusing Rs 54.88 crore in public funds.

This development will allow the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to file charges. In September, the ACB submitted its report and, via the state government, requested the Governor's approval to prosecute KTR, senior IAS officer Arvind Kumar, and others.

After nine months of investigation into the alleged irregularities surrounding the hosting of the Formula E race in Hyderabad during the previous BRS regime, the ACB submitted its findings to the state government. KTR has been accused of receiving Rs 44 crore in the form of an electoral bond from a sponsorship company as a quid pro quo for granting it rights to organize the race.

In December of last year, the ACB initiated legal action against KTR, Municipal Administration and Urban Development's former Special Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar, and Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority's former Chief Engineer B.L.N. Reddy for alleged irregularities amounting to Rs 54.88 crore in the Formula E deal.

KTR, who has been questioned by the ACB on four occasions, dismissed the Formula E case as a "bogus case". He asserted that he had made every effort to bring the Formula E race to Hyderabad and confirmed that he had authorized the release of Rs 46 crore from the government, emphasizing that the funds were deposited directly into the designated account.

"Not a single rupee has been misused. Every rupee is accounted for. Where then is the corruption?" he asked.

As the year comes to a close, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), investigating the alleged phone tapping during BRS's governance, is reportedly planning to summon KCR and KTR, likely issuing notices for them to appear before the SIT.

The BRS has labeled this as a diversion tactic by the Congress government, as KCR has announced a mass movement against it for failing to protect the state's interests regarding Krishna and Godavari river waters.

Reports suggest that the phones of Congress and BJP leaders, businessmen, celebrities, journalists, civil society members, and even judges were reportedly tapped during BRS's tenure from 2014 to 2023.

Former Chief of Special Intelligence Bureau (SIB) T. Prabhakar Rao, the key suspect in the case, is currently in custody of the SIT.

Prabhakar Rao has been accused of orchestrating the illegal surveillance of numerous prominent individuals during the BRS administration. He allegedly formed a special team within the SIB to tap the phones of those opposing the BRS government.

Following the BRS's defeat in the 2023 elections, Prabhakar Rao resigned from his post, fleeing to the U.S. just before the case was registered against him.

The Supreme Court, on May 29, 2025, instructed authorities to facilitate an emergency travel document to allow Prabhakar Rao's return.

According to a commitment made to the Supreme Court, Prabhakar Rao returned to India on June 8.

The phone-tapping allegations surfaced in March 2024 with the arrest of former Deputy Superintendent of Police D. Praneeth Rao following a complaint from his superior. The police later arrested retired Deputy Commissioner of Police P. Radha Kishan Rao and Additional Superintendents of Police N Bhujanga Rao and M. Thirupathanna.

In 2025, BRS also suffered another electoral defeat, failing to secure the Jubilee Hills Assembly seat, which became vacant after the passing of the sitting MLA Maganti Gopinath. In the by-election, Congress claimed the seat with a significant margin. BRS contested the by-election under KTR's leadership, while Congress enlisted Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to spearhead their campaign.

However, BRS demonstrated resilience in the recent Gram Panchayat elections held this month. Out of 12,727 Gram Panchayats, candidates supported by BRS secured victories in 3,519 Gram Panchayats (27.64%).

BRS asserts that the Gram Panchayat outcomes reflect strong anti-incumbency sentiments. KTR asserted it marks the beginning of Congress's decline in Telangana.

BRS continues its legal battle to disqualify its 10 MLAs who switched allegiance to Congress last year. Following the Supreme Court's intervention, Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar held hearings on the disqualification petitions for eight MLAs, rejecting the petitions for five.

In challenging the Speaker's ruling in court, BRS has also urged the ruling Congress to compel the defecting MLAs to resign and contest in a by-election.