BJP fielding Kompella Madhavi Latha from Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency has piqued the interest of voters. Latha has been pitted against four-time Hyderabad MP and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi. This is the first time that a woman has been fielded by the saffron party from this seat.
Madhavi Latha, 49, comes from a non-political background and she is the chairperson of a corporate hospital called Virinchi Hospitals. She is also known to be a philanthropist and is the chairperson of Lopamudra Charitable Trust, which provides healthcare, education, and livelihood to the underprivileged people in the city. She is also a trustee at Lathama Foundation.
She has a bachelor’s degree from Nizam’s College and a post-graduate degree in political science from Koti Woman’s College. She has a keen interest in cultural activities and is a trained Bharatnatyam dancer. In many of her interviews, she is also seen breaking into Sanskrit verses and devotional songs.
Even before the announcement of her candidature, Madhavi Latha had created a ripple in social media owing to her speeches and traditional attire. She wears saris in a traditional style, along with the ethnic jewellery and flowers in hair. She is also a vocal proponent of Sanatan Dharma and traditional values. In many of her speeches, she has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his dedication to Karma Yoga, which a way to attain Moksha.
Like Owaisi, Latha hails from Old City in Hyderabad, which is known as an AIMIM bastion. She grew up in Santoshnagar Colony and is involved in many charitable initiatives in that part of the city. She is particularly known for her work to improve the living conditions of both Hindu and Muslim women. She also campaigned against Triple Talaq, which was later outlawed by the Modi government. Owaisi had been a vocal opponent of this decision by the Central government.
Latha’s husband, the founder of Virinchi Hospital, is a mechanical engineer from IIT Madras. Her paternal grandmother served in the Army. She has three children — two daughters and a son. Her eldest daughter is studying B. Tech in IIT Madras, where her son too studies. Her youngest daughter is in Class 11. Latha has said she home-schooled her three children.
According to data, BJP’s vote share has been on the rise in Telangana in the past decade from just 7% in 2014 to 15% in the 2023 Assembly elections.
In the recent state elections, the BJP won eight seats and became the principal opposition in a number of seats, including Charminar, Karwan, LB Nagar, Rajendranagar, Amberpet and Sanathnagar.
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