Long-time RSS worker, mother of three is BJP’s candidate against Asaduddin Owaisi

Self-proclaimed “daughter of RSS”, “typical traditional Indian woman”, entrepreneur, hospital administrator and a trained Bharatanatyam dancer, Kompella Madhavi Latha was a relatively unknown name in Telangana’s political circles till she suddenly shot into the limelight last Saturday after the BJP named her as its candidate to take on AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi in his bastion of Hyderabad.

Latha, 49 and a mother of three, says the news of her candidature came as a pleasant surprise, and that she had never lobbied for a ticket. A feisty orator and a postgraduate in Political Science from Osmania University, she calls the ticket an acknowledgment of 18 years of charity work by her, and another example of the BJP’s ability to recognise the potential of people.

“It is unclear why she was chosen as she is not a well-known karyakarta (worker). Maybe the woman factor, her strong oratory skills and work among Muslim women worked in her favour. The party will back her and we will put up a strong fight,” a BJP leader said.

The AIMIM has held the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat for four decades – while Salahuddin Owaisi held it from 1984 to 1999, it has been won by his son Asaduddin since. The AIMIM also holds all the Assembly segments under the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, barring Goshamahal, which is represented by the BJP’s T Raja Singh.

The BJP chose Latha over party veteran Bhagavanth Rao Pawar, who had been its candidate from the seat in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls, losing to Asaduddin by a huge margin both times. Sources said her proximity to senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar, the head of the Sangh’s Muslim Rashtriya Manch whom she sees as a mentor, was instrumental in her being picked by the BJP as its candidate.

“The BJP would