In an exclusive interview with Zee News, Madhavi Latha, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the Hyderabad parliamentary constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, issued an open challenge to her rival, AIMIM chief Asadduddin Owaisi, for a debate.
Addressing Zee News Consulting Editor Pradip Bhandari, Latha extended an invitation to Owaisi for a televised debate on the news channel before the upcoming LS polls. She asserted her readiness to present all relevant documents and information during the debate, aiming to expose Owaisi’s record and policies to scrutiny.
Madhavi Latha also responded to Owaisi’s neglecting to take her name in his rallies by stating, “I have a transparent history, which is why he cannot find fault with me.”
She questioned whether Owaisi would criticize her for supporting Prime Minister Modi in the abolition of Triple Talaq, providing assistance to Madrasas for children, or endorsing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), which grants Muslim women equal property rights to their brothers.
In a further critique, Latha accused Owaisi of sowing division among Muslims, particularly neglecting the Pasmanda Muslims who, she claimed, have seen little progress despite their trust in him. She alleged that Owaisi’s narrative within the Muslim community implies that failure to elect a Muslim representative would endanger their community’s survival.
In the previous 2019 general election, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) clinched 9 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured 4 seats. The Indian National Congress (INC) obtained 3 seats, and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) won 1 seat.
The elections for constituencies in Telangana are scheduled to take place on May 17. Owaisi, aged 55, has emerged victorious from his constituency four times since 2004. Prior to that, he served two terms as a member of the undivided Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly.