The IPS turned politician RS Praveen Kumar seems to be in search of identity. First he started his political journey by planning to start his own political party, but later joined with BSP Supremo Mayawati and became its Telangana president. However, his efforts to get a political foothold in the state failed.
Later, he joined BRS, which also lost its clout and power. Though BRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao has been giving him prominence within the party, unlike several other senior party leaders, mostly he is recognized as a `dalit leader’, though his clout with Christian organizations are well known. Due to his previous association with BSP, even BRS leaders are considering him as a `dalit leader’. That seems to be irritating him most.
When ABN news channel anchor casually referred to him as a `dalit leader’, he became angry and announced he is boycotting that channel and hereafter he will not take part in TV debates in that channel. Earlier also once, he made such an announcement against that channel, but later somehow reconsidered.
Even BRS leaders are cautioning him that taking up such hasty stands against news channels again and again will not yield any political mileage. They felt it only reflects his unstable nature, which is dangerous in public life, moreover in the political arena.
Recently KCR has been giving him more chances to take part in TV debates on behalf of the BRS. Nowadays, he is seen in the forefront in attacking the Revanth Reddy government on issues like PC Ghosh Commission Report on Kaleshwaram project and other issues.
However, RS Praveen getting angry for being tagged as a Dalit leader is not seen to be taking well even by BRS leaders. Moreover, they too felt calling him as a `dalit leader’ makes him project as a politically key identity. Moreover, for a long time his activities are also conveying his identity with Dalit community.
Besides his BRS journey, he runs an organization called Svero for Dalit children. He also responds extensively on Dalit issues. When his friend, another IPS officer from AP, Sunil Kumar, got into trouble due to his proximity with the previous YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s regime, it was Praveen Kumar who played Dalit card on social media.