In a major loss for the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and Telangana's political landscape, senior MLA Maganti Gopinath passed away at 5:45 AM on Sunday, June 8, 2025. He had been under critical care at AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad, after suffering a massive cardiac arrest on June 5 at around 2:30 PM. Doctors had placed him on a ventilator, but despite all efforts, the 62-year-old politician could not be revived.
Maganti Gopinath was a three-time MLA and one of the most prominent political figures from the Jubilee Hills constituency, one of the largest and most influential regions in Telangana. Born on June 2, 1963, in Hyderguda, Hyderabad, Gopinath was the son of Maganti Krishnamurthy and Mahananda Kumari, both of whom belonged to the Andhra settler community. His early interest in public life was influenced by legendary actors and political figures like NT Ramarao and M.G. Ramachandran (MGR), whom he idolized.
He began his political journey with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) right from its inception in 1983. His spirited "bullet rallies" in support of NT Ramarao and MGR were widely known in the 1980s. Recognizing his enthusiasm and leadership potential, NT Ramarao appointed him as President of Telugu Yuvatha in 1985. He later served as HUDA Director from 1987 to 1990, building strong relationships with political stalwarts like N. Chandrababu Naidu and K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR).
Despite intense regional tensions, Gopinath won the Jubilee Hills seat in the 2014 Telangana Assembly elections on a TDP ticket. Soon after, he joined the KCR-led Telangana Rashtra Samithi (now BRS), under which he secured re-election victories in both 2018 and 2023. In the 2023 polls, he notably defeated Congress candidate and former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin with a margin exceeding 16,000 votes.
Before his political success, Maganti Gopinath also explored a career in film production within the Telugu cinema industry. He produced four films: Paatha Basthi (1995), Ravanna (2000), Bhadradri Ramudu (2004), and Naa Style Ye Veru (2009). Although these ventures didn’t yield commercial success, they highlighted his connection with the cultural and entertainment circles of Telugu-speaking states.
Maganti Gopinath is survived by his wife, Maganti Sunitha, his son Vathsalyanath, and daughters Divya Aksharanag and Disira. His passing marks the end of an era for the Jubilee Hills constituency and a void in BRS leadership during a critical time in Telangana politics. Condolences have poured in from across party lines, with leaders and citizens alike remembering him as a charismatic leader, a passionate public servant, and a man who never lost an election in his political career.
