‘Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation will not help’: Kavitha calls for change in the CEC selection process
Hyderabad, Oct 12 (IANS) Telangana Rakshana Sena (TRS) Chief Kalvakuntla Kavitha on Monday called for a change in the system for the selection of the Chief Election Commissioner to ensure free and fair elections.
Participating in Bathukamma celebrations at the party office here, she said that the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar will not solve the problem, and free and fair elections can be ensured by changing the process for the selection of the CEC.
“People are demanding the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. I disagree with that demand. Changing the Commissioner won’t help because (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi will simply appoint another loyalist. The entire system must change. We must discard EVMs and return to the ballot paper system,” she said.
Kavitha, along with women leaders and workers of the party, participated in Bathukamma, a floral festival which symbolises Telangana’s unique cultural identity.
The former MP and TRS women leaders arranged the seasonal flowers and offered prayers.
The TRS office resonated with folk songs and rhythmic clapping as Kavitha, along with other women, danced in circles around the floral arrangements.
Earlier, she participated in the celebrations alongside students at the historic Osmania University Arts College.
Addressing a large gathering of students and youth, Kavitha reflected on the revolutionary spirit of Osmania University, criticised the current political and educational landscape, and offered a public apology for her past association with the BRS regime regarding its neglect of universities.
Kavitha hailed Osmania University as the heartbeat of the Telangana movement. Drawing parallels between historical milestones, she noted how Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak used Ganesh Chaturthi during the freedom struggle, much like how the Telangana movement integrated the Bathukamma festival to assert regional identity.
“Bathukamma is not just about celebration; it carries a deep social purpose. Every flower in a Bathukamma is common and equal, and a true Telangana of tomorrow must reflect that same inclusivity and equality,” she said.
Shifting her focus to the pressing issues plaguing higher education, Kavitha launched a scathing critique of both past and present state governments. She highlighted the dismal conditions on campus, pointing out that despite Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s announcement of Rs 1,000 crore for Osmania University six months ago, not a single rupee has been released.
“When I visited the Law College recently during Vinayaka Chaviti, I saw up to eight students cramped into a single room without even basic drinking water. Around 74 per cent of assistant professor positions remain vacant across universities. Both the previous BRS government and the current Congress government have failed our universities. I once again apologise for being part of the BRS governance that neglected them,” Kavitha said.
She called on students to unite and relentlessly pressure the government to release the promised funds, comparing the potential protests to a local version of Jantar Mantar.
–IANS
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