From medical college to public service:  21-year-old MBBS student elected Sarpanch in Telangana

At an age when most students are focused on examinations and clinical postings, 21-year-old Kavali Nikitha has stepped into grassroots politics after winning the Sarpanch election from Shakhpur village in Pebbair mandal of Telangana’s Wanaparthy district. A third-year MBBS student at Government Medical College Nagarkurnool, Ms. Nikitha has emerged as one of the youngest elected representatives in the State.

Ms. Nikitha said her decision to contest the election was shaped by circumstances within her family and the reservation framework at the village level. The Sarpanch post in Shakhpur was reserved for a Backward Class A woman, and she was the only eligible woman in her family. With both her parents employed in government service, she said public service was already a familiar idea at home. Seeing the opportunity as a chance to serve her village, she decided to file her nomination and enter the fray.

The election was keenly contested, with five candidates in the race, including Ms. Nikitha. She won by a margin of 548 votes, a result she described as both surprising and deeply moving. “I did not imagine that people would trust me so much,” she said, adding that a large share of her support came from women voters in the village.

At 21 years and 7 months, Ms. Nikitha contested the election as a candidate of the Indian National Congress (INC). Shakhpur village falls under Pebbair mandal in Wanaparthy district, and is part of the Nagarkurnool Lok Sabha constituency.

Outlining her priorities as Sarpanch, Ms. Nikitha said her immediate focus would be on improving basic civic infrastructure, an area where the village faces long-standing gaps. “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 concern as Shakhpur does not have adequate pipeline infrastructure, resulting in insufficient and irregular water availability for residents,” she said.

Improving water facilities was one of the key promises she made during the campaign. Alongside this, she highlighted the absence of a proper underground drainage system in the village, leading to sanitation and hygiene challenges, particularly during the monsoon.

She said she was conscious of the expectations that come with the mandate she has received and was determined to honour the promises made during the campaign. “People trusted me and voted for me. I want to repay that trust through my work,” she said.

“As a medical student, I would like to focus on creating awareness about preventable diseases and hold screening camps to understand the health status of villagers,” she added.