In an interesting twist to the high-stakes by-election to the Jubilee Hills assembly seat in Hyderabad, the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi has suddenly found itself in a piquant situation over the legitimacy of its candidate.
As the nomination process came to an end for this by-election, BRS candidate Maganti Sunitha — widow of late leader Maganti Gopinath, whose death necessitated the by-election — has been caught in a family dispute.
As Sunitha has been actively canvassing for votes along with her children, Gopinath’s son from his first marriage, Maganti Pradyumna, alleged that she was misrepresenting her marital status.
In a sensational claim, Pradyumna alleged that Sunitha and Gopinath were never legally married and merely lived together in a live-in relationship.
He has submitted a petition to the Election Commission (EC), demanding the cancellation of Sunitha’s nomination affidavit, arguing that it contains false information about her marital relationship with Gopinath.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Pradyumna stated that his mother, Malini, had never divorced Gopinath.
“There were no legal divorce proceedings between my parents, yet during the previous election, Gopinath mentioned Sunitha’s name as his wife in his affidavit,” he alleged, urging the EC to take appropriate action.
However, responding to the complaint, the Election Commission clarified that determining the legality of Sunitha’s marital status was beyond its jurisdiction, stating that such matters must be decided by the courts.
Consequently, the Election Commission has accepted Maganti Sunitha’s nomination papers, clearing her to contest the by-election.
The development adds an unexpected personal dimension to an already tense political contest in the upscale Hyderabad constituency.
