Most of us outside Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have only seen the firebrand BJP leader Kompella Madhavi Latha through television appearances and her viral videos on social media. In our minds, she embodies a divine femininity—graceful, strong, and deeply rooted in tradition. Meeting her in person only reinforced this image.

With flowers adorning her neatly tied hair bun, a bright red bindi on her forehead, traditional religious markings, a sparkling nose ring, and a richly woven saree, she embodied the essence of a quintessential Telugu gruhini. Draped in a saffron shawl over her shoulders, she was every bit the Madhavi Latha we have seen on screen.

Madhavi Latha, both on and off screen, remains the same—grounded, articulate, and deeply spiritual. As we spoke with her, it became evident that she is not only well-read but also deeply connected to her cultural roots. She effortlessly chanted slokas and shared insights with a calm, unwavering demeanor. Her daily puja rituals are a non-negotiable part of her routine, performed with devotion and without a hint of reluctance.

During the brief time we spent with her, we managed to touch upon a few important topics, each conversation revealing her depth of knowledge and unwavering commitment to her beliefs. Madhavi Latha is not just a political leader; she is a symbol of tradition, strength, and intellect, seamlessly blending modernity with timeless values.

The Commune: You’ve been described as “communal, misogynistic, patriarchal” by the leftist media. How do you respond to these characterizations?

Madhavi Latha: I would ask who has ever tried to do good for society and been spared from such negative comments? Even the lotus comes from the mud. If someone claims I’m patriarchal or communal/Islamophobic or misogynistic, let me respond with facts.

I have facilitated 1,008 free normal deliveries for women in need. This inspiration came to me when I was reciting the 1,008 names of the Mother Goddess. The Sahasranama itself begins with “Sri Mata” – Mother was sending me a message that Mata, motherhood comes first. Even in Telangana, pregnancy wasn’t included in the state health scheme until recently. I decided to help women by providing free normal deliveries with pre and post-natal support. Interestingly, 70-75% of the women who availed this service were Muslim.

As for being misogynistic, my spiritual practice begins with honoring the Mother Goddess. My charitable work has always focused on women and girls. I prioritize supporting the girl child, then boys – not because I discriminate, but because I feel a special connection to girls’ needs.

The Commune: What was your thought process when you realized you weren’t winning your seat?

Madhavi Latha: What defines winning and losing? If you and I take an exam, and you use a book while I rely on what I’ve learned, you might get a gold medal. But what really matters? For me, winning isn’t the criterion. What’s important is whether I revealed truths that the public needed to know.

I exposed bogus voting and booth capturing. I revealed how the Telangana government aligned with people of problematic ideology. I highlighted how brutally women within certain communities are being neglected. I’ve shown how elections, meant to be a sacred democratic process, are being misused.

Winning and losing have different definitions for me. I didn’t enter politics for personal gain but to contribute something positive.

The Commune: You visited some challenging areas with difficult demographics. Where did you draw your courage to go to such places?

Madhavi Latha: For me, those people are my people. I embody motherhood, and whoever is an authentic, legal citizen of Bharat Mata is my sibling or my child. It doesn’t matter which religion or community they belong to. I only object to illegal immigrants, not legitimate Indian citizens.

When I visited Muslim-populated areas, they showed me tremendous love – especially economically disadvantaged Muslims. They love me because I’m concerned with whether true Indian Muslims are getting their rights or if outsiders are taking what belongs to them. The MIM has ruled these areas for 50 years without lifting their own community from poverty, while in 10 years, Modi ji has elevated India’s economic standards significantly.

In my own political team, I have 50% Muslims and 50% Hindus working with me. Abbas Bhai, an elderly Muslim man, sis my guide and helping hand.

The Commune: You are a multi-faceted and multi-talented person. You perform your daily Poojas without fail, you were an NCC cadet, you’re an entrepreneur, you are multilingual. In fact, we were surprised to hear that you can read and write Tamil and speak Hindi as well as your mother tongue Telugu and Urdu with ease. What other languages do you know, and what are some other facts we don’t know about you?

Madhavi Latha: I love Tamil and Kannada, as my father’s family speaks Kannada fluently. Hindi connects our entire country, though it’s not officially declared a national language. We learn English not because we surrender to it, but as a medium to communicate beyond our state.

I even speak Urdu and love languages in general. Languages are beautiful, like natural resources – mountains, rivers. If given the opportunity, I would love to learn many more languages, but I can manage with Tamil and Kannada well enough to find my way.

The Commune: How do you view the language politics currently playing out in Tamil Nadu?

Madhavi Latha: Unfortunately, the Tamil Nadu government should focus on more pressing issues. I’m disappointed their thinking is so limited. Most Tamilians, including skilled workers, speak English – did that stop them from speaking Tamil?

I speak Telugu – did I stop speaking it? Did Biharis stop speaking Bhojpuri? Did Assamese stop speaking Assamese? Did Gujaratis or Maharashtrians abandon their languages? People’s representatives should use common sense. Instead of fixating on Hindi, address the rape case at Tamil University. Help children of drivers and laborers access good schools.

As elected officials with a five-year mandate, they should understand how precious that time is and the value of people’s votes. We’ve invested five years of potential development in these representatives, and they’re focusing on such trivial matters. What difference does it make? Learning another language only expands your horizons – you read more newspapers, watch more channels and movies. Did they stop Hindi movies from coming to Tamil Nadu? They need better intellectual advisors.

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