With just a few days to go for the assembly by-election in the city’s Jubilee Hills constituency, an unsavoury controversy has broken out with questions being raised over the marital status of the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) nominee Maganti Sunitha, the widow of late MLA Maganti Gopinath.
The campaign turned ugly after Tarak Pradhumna Kosaraju, who identifies himself as Gopinath’s son from his first marriage to Malini Devi, complained to election authorities that Sunitha was not the deceased legislator’s legally wedded wife. He alleged that she had submitted “false information” in her nomination affidavit, particularly regarding her relationship with Gopinath and her share in his declared assets.
The by-election was necessitated due to the death of Gopinath after a brief illness. The BRS nominated his widow for the seat. Polling is scheduled on November 11.
Sunitha’s nomination was accepted by the Returning Officer of the Jubilee Hills constituency, and her name appears on the final list of candidates. Her affidavit, available on the Election Commission’s official website, lists movable and immovable assets worth several crores of rupees.
Mother’s version
Meanwhile, Gopinath’s 92-year-old mother, Maganti Mahananda Kumari, waded into the controversy and alleged that Sunitha and BRS working president KT Rama Rao did not allow her or Gopinath’s brother Vajranath to see Gopinath while he was undergoing treatment in a private hospital.
“Is it right to deny a mother the chance to see her son on his deathbed?” Kumari asked. She insisted that Malini Devi was Gopinath’s legally wedded wife and not Sunita.
However, these claims came under scrutiny after several photographs and videos surfaced on social media showing Mahananda Kumari attending the wedding of Gopinath and Sunitha. Another picture showing Gopinath and Sunitha celebrating their children’s birthday, with Gopinath’s mother helping a child cut the cake, has also gone viral.
“The couple had been married for over 23 years, and their marriage was performed in the presence of Maganti Gopinath’s mother.” a BRS supporter said.
Sharing old images of Mahananda Kumari on X, BRS spokesperson Manne Krishank hit back at pro-Congress media outlets. “Cheapest tactics by Sonia Gandhi ji’s party against a woman candidate in the Jubilee Hills bypoll,” he said.
After trying all possible means, the Congress is now resorting to personal attacks and raising the marital relationship of the late MLA and Sunitha to malign her, BRS leaders pointed out.
Congress Ministers, including Ponnam Prabhakar, had earlier accused Sunitha of attempting to gain sympathy when she turned emotional at a few events where the public expressed solidarity with her family.
Inquiry initiated
Following the complaint, officials from the Serilingampally revenue division reportedly initiated verification of a Family Member Certificate (FMC) issued in Sunitha’s name. Mahananda Kumari appeared before the Serilingampally Deputy Collector and Tahsildar in connection with the FMC inquiry.
Meanwhile, BRS leaders and cadres have accused the Congress of raising the issue to malign the image of Sunitha and the BRS. “The Congress is trying to use personal matters to gain sympathy votes because it fears losing Jubilee Hills,” a senior BRS functionary said.
Party supporters have questioned the timing of the fresh allegations. “Why did Gopinath’s mother remain silent all these years and suddenly speak about this now, just days before the November 11 by-election?” asked one BRS activist on social media. “Would the Congress stoop so low to attack a woman for political gain? Has the fear of defeat become that desperate?”
The revenue inquiry into the FMC and the complaint before the Election Commission are still pending.
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