Hyderabad constituency is one of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana that will be contested in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha elections on Monday, May 13. Incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) and AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi is facing off against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Madhavi Latha for the seat. This marks the first time the saffron party has nominated a female candidate for the Hyderabad constituency.
In the upcoming 2024 general elections, the Congress has nominated Mohammad Waliullah Sameer, while the BRS has put forward Gaddam Srinivas Yadav as their candidate for the Hyderabad constituency.
Owaisi stronghold
For the past forty years, the seat has remained under the control of the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), making it their stronghold. Since 2004, Owaisi has emerged victorious in the seat for four consecutive terms. Prior to his tenure, Owaisi’s father, Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, represented the Hyderabad seat in the Lok Sabha for six consecutive terms starting from 1984. In the 2019 elections, Owaisi secured a significant victory with a margin of over 2.80 lakh votes, garnering approximately 64 percent of the total votes.
Who is Madhavi Latha?
This time, however, Asaduddin Owaisi is encountering a formidable opponent in the form of Madhavi Latha, a newcomer from the BJP.
Latha, aged 49, was relatively unknown in political circles until March 2, when her name appeared on the BJP’s candidate list for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. She is a cultural activist who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Nizam College and a Master’s degree in Political Science from Osmania University.
On April 7, Prime Minister Modi commended Latha for her articulate and passionate arguments during a TV interview. “Madhavi Latha Ji, your ‘Aap Ki Adalat’ episode was exceptional. You presented strong points with both logic and passion. My best wishes to you,” the Prime Minister shared on X.
Anti-Triple Talaq Activist
Madhavi Latha, a prominent figure in the campaign against the criminalization of instant triple talaq in 2019, has been a vocal critic of the move. She believes that it is an attack on the Muslim identity and citizenship. In addition to her activism, Latha is a successful entrepreneur, an NCC cadet, and a professional Bharatanatyam dancer. She currently serves as the chairperson of Virinchi Hospitals in Hyderabad. Latha’s candidacy is seen as a recognition of her extensive charity work spanning nearly two decades. Despite her determination to defeat Owaisi in his own constituency, the AIMIM chief remains confident in securing a fifth term in Parliament from Hyderabad.