Chennai, Feb 2 (BPNS)

The AIADMK has fielded a transgender woman candidate as its candidate in the ensuing local body elections for Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). AIADMK women’s wing leader N. Jayadevi, who is also the South Chennai district deputy secretary of the party will contest in the party symbol from ward 112 in Teynampet.

Its former ally BJP has also fielded a woman candidate with the party Mahila morcha leader, B. Rajamma becoming its candidate from Thiru Vi Ka Nagar’s ward 76.

The DMK has also fielded a transgender woman candidate from Vellore for the Urban local body elections.

Political analyst and Director of Socio-Economic Development Foundation (SEDF), Dr. R. Padmanabhan while speaking to BPNS said, “ This is a welcome trend and three major political parties in Tamil Nadu fielding transgender women candidates is something we should be proud of as social and political workers and observers. The transgenders were looked down upon not in the distant future and from such a social situation to people from this community becoming candidates of mainstream political parties is a very positive sign as political churning is concerned.”

In the 2021 assembly elections, Transgender women had contested elections with M. Radha contesting from Mylapore in Chennai as an independent and Bharathi Kannama contesting from Madurai South again as an independent. Both of them had earlier contested the 2019 Lok sabha elections, again as independent candidates.