Who Is Madhavi Latha? BJP's Face Against Owaisi, Now With 'Y+' Security

The Centre on Monday granted Madhavi Latha, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, 'Y+' category security provided by the CRPF. Sources indicated that this security cover is specifically for Telangana.

According to reports, Madhavi Latha has been granted security cover specifically for Telangana after few threat reports.

The security detail includes 11 personnel, with six CRPF officers accompanying her and five guards stationed at her residence. The provision of security to Madhavi Latha has sparked discussion within the BJP, with MLA Raja Singh having written multiple letters to the Union Home Ministry requesting security. BJP leaders have highlighted that while Bandi Sanjay, former president of BJP Telangana, also sought Central forces' security, it was not granted to him. This development has stirred debate within the BJP regarding the differing approaches to security provision for its members.

The BJP has nominated Madhavi Latha to contest from the Hyderabad seat, challenging AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who has held the seat since 2004.

Who is Madhavi Latha?

Madhavi Latha was relatively unknown in political circles until March 2, when she appeared on the BJP's candidate list for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.

At 49 years old, Latha is running against Asaduddin Owaisi, a four-time MP, from Hyderabad. The Owaisi family has represented the seat for nearly four decades.

Before Asaduddin, who first won the seat in 2004, Hyderabad was represented in the Lok Sabha by his father, Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, starting in 1984. With the exception of Goshamahal, all assembly seats in Hyderabad are held by the AIMIM.

Triple Talaq Activist, Bharatanatyam Dancer

Latha is a cultural activist with a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration from Nizam College and a Master's degree in Political Science from Osmania University.

She was a prominent figure in the campaign against instant triple talaq, which was criminalized by Parliament in 2019. Latha's candidacy is significant as Owaisi has been a vocal critic of the law that criminalized instant triple talaq, calling it part of various attacks on Muslim identity and citizenship.

Beyond her activism, Latha is an entrepreneur, an NCC cadet, and a professional Bharatanatyam dancer. She serves as the chairperson of Hyderabad-based Virinchi Hospitals. Latha has described her candidacy as recognition of her nearly two-decade-long charitable work.