21-year-old Kavali Nikitha entered local politics after winning the Sarpanch election from Shakhpur village in Pebbair mandal of Wanaparthy district in Telangana. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
At an age when most students focus on examinations and clinical postings, 21-year-old Kavali Nikitha entered local politics after winning the Sarpanch election from Shakhpur village in Pebbair mandal of Wanaparthy district in Telangana. A third year MBBS student at Government Medical College Nagarkurnool, Ms. Nikitha has become one of the youngest elected representatives in the state.
Ms. Nikitha said her decision to contest the elections was influenced by her family circumstances and the framework of village-level reservation. The post of Sarpanch in Shakhpur was reserved for a Backward Class A woman and she was the only eligible woman in her family. With both of her parents employed in government, she said public service was already a familiar idea at home. Seeing the opportunity as a chance to serve her village, she decided to submit her nomination and join the fray.
The election was heavily contested, with five candidates in the running, including Ms. Nikitha. She won by a margin of 548 votes, a result she described as both surprising and deeply moving. “I didn’t imagine people would trust me like this,” she said, noting that much of her support comes from female voters in the village.
At the age of 21 years and 7 months, Ms. Nikitha contested the elections as an Indian National Congress (INC) candidate. Shakhpur village comes under Pebbair Mandal in Wanaparthy District and is a part of Nagarkurnool Lok Sabha Constituency.
21-year-old Kavali Nikitha entered local politics after winning the Sarpanch election from Shakhpur village in Pebbair mandal of Wanaparthy district in Telangana. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
Outlining her priorities as Sarpanch, Ms. Nikitha said she would immediately focus on improving basic civic infrastructure, an area where the village has been facing long-standing deficiencies. “One of the most pressing issues is the lack of public transport connectivity. Shakhpur currently does not have a regular RTC bus service. Water supply is another major problem as Shakhpur does not have adequate pipeline infrastructure, resulting in insufficient and irregular availability of water for residents,” she said.
Improving water facilities was one of the key promises she made during the campaign. In addition, she highlighted the absence of a proper underground drainage system in the village, which leads to sanitation and hygiene problems, especially during the monsoon.
She said she is aware of the expectations that come with the mandate she received and is determined to live up to the promises made during the campaign. “People trusted me and voted for me. I want to repay that trust with my work,” she said.
“As a medical student, I would like to focus on creating awareness about preventable diseases and conduct screening camps to understand the health status of the villagers,” she added.
Published – 21 Dec 2025 20:44 IST
