Kavitha leads protest over unfilled jobs, questions Congress

Telangana politician Kavitha, former Member of Parliament and suspended leader from the BRS party, intensified her political activism on Tuesday by highlighting the issue of unemployment in the state. Leading a protest at Gun Park in Hyderabad under the banner of Telangana Jagruthi, Kavitha raised questions about the fulfillment of promises made by the Congress government regarding job creation and criticized delays in recruitment notifications.

Kavitha, who had previously raised no objections while her father, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), administered the state, is now publicly questioning the Congress administration on employment issues. Her protest comes amid growing frustration among unemployed youth in Telangana, who remain discontented despite the state government’s assurances.

Congress promises and opposition criticism

Historically, political parties in Telangana have promised employment as a key issue to attract voters. During the Telangana movement, unemployed youth played a critical role in political mobilization, with promises of government jobs forming a central part of campaign rhetoric. However, under BRS rule, these promises were largely unfulfilled. Similarly, the Congress party, while in opposition, leveraged the unemployment issue and, upon assuming power, pledged to fill two lakh government positions.

Despite this commitment, the Congress administration has faced criticism for delays in implementing these promises, with opposition parties using the unfulfilled pledges as a point of attack. This ongoing issue has kept unemployment at the forefront of Telangana’s political discourse.

Gun park protest led by Kavitha

On Wednesday, Kavitha, serving as President of Telangana Jagruthi, organized a demonstration at Gun Park in Hyderabad. The protest brought together unemployed youth, Telangana Jagruthi activists, and candidates affected by irregularities in Group-1 examinations. Kavitha demanded that the government address the anomalies in Group-1 exams and urged for either reevaluation or re-conduct of the tests as directed by the High Court.

During the protest, Kavitha accused the Congress government of failing to fulfill the expectations of unemployed youth who had voted in favor of the party based on assurances made by leaders, including Rahul Gandhi. She specifically questioned the government’s reliance on old recruitment notifications for appointments, arguing that this practice is inadequate and unfair to job seekers awaiting fresh notifications.

Political strategy behind the protest

Kavitha appears to be employing strategic measures to consolidate her political presence by addressing issues affecting specific voter groups, such as unemployed youth. Her recent activism, following her suspension from the BRS party and criticism of her former party, indicates an attempt to create a distinct political identity. Analysts note that raising social and employment-related issues may help Kavitha attract public support and strengthen her leadership position within Telangana’s political landscape.

Questions about political timing

Critics have questioned the timing of Kavitha’s protest, noting that during BRS rule, when she was an MP and her father was the Chief Minister, unemployed youth struggled without significant intervention from her. Now, facing political challenges, she has chosen to champion the cause of the unemployed, raising debates about the motivations behind her activism. Nonetheless, some unemployed participants in the protest have expressed hope that the government will take action following her advocacy.

Unemployment statistics and job creation under BRS

The unemployment issue in Telangana has resurfaced as a critical topic. According to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) report by the Union Government, as of August 2025, Telangana’s youth unemployment rate stood at 20.1%, higher than the national average of 15.6%.

During BRS’s nine-year rule, government records indicate that a total of 1,60,083 government jobs were filled. This included approximately 30,500 positions across Group-1, 2, and 3 services, 31,900 police positions, and 45,000 roles in the education sector, with the remainder spread across other departments. On average, the administration filled around 16,000 government positions per year. BRS leaders, however, have claimed that over four lakh IT sector jobs were also created during this period. Despite these numbers, dissatisfaction persisted among unemployed youth, contributing to political challenges for BRS.

Job creation by the congress government

The Congress party, during its 22-month tenure from December 2023 to October 2025, reportedly filled over 65,000 government positions. Officials note that a majority of these appointments were based on recruitment notifications issued during the BRS administration, with appointments primarily executed through previously released notifications. This approach has drawn criticism from opposition parties, emphasizing that the Congress government has yet to fully meet its pledge of creating two lakh jobs.

Kavitha’s protest at Gun Park underscores the continuing tension surrounding unemployment in Telangana. While her activism raises questions about political strategy and timing, it also brings the issue of delayed job creation to the forefront. With the youth unemployment rate higher than the national average and promises from both BRS and Congress partially unfulfilled, employment continues to be a contentious and politically significant issue in the state.