CHENNAI: The 2014 Lok Sabha elections was witness to Bharathi Kannamma, the first time a transgender contested elections in the State of Tamil Nadu.
The number of transgenders wishing to contest the Assembly elections this time has gone up to four. P Sudha (43), who has been working for the cause of transgenders for around 25 years in various organisations, on Thursday sought the AIADMK ticket for contesting the Assembly polls. Sudha and her associates came to the AIADMK headquarters and handed over a letter to the office-bearers. Later, they also handed over another representation at the residence of CM and AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa.
Asked why they chose the AIADMK than other political parties, Sudha told Express that the Chief Minister had done much for the welfare of transgenders - from ration cards to houses. Every district in the State has at least 30 Self Help Groups exclusively for transgenders.
“We believe Amma can lead us to light. Even if opportunity is not given for contesting the Assembly, we will continue to support her. If elected with Amma’s support, we will function as an effective member of the State Assembly,” Sudha said.
Sudha, who has studied up to SSLC, left her house at Maruthamputhur in Tirunelveli district when she was 18 and joined the Country Action Network as an Assistant Researcher since the network desired to have someone from the transgender community on field. Later, she worked with some other NGOs and mostly with Voluntary Health Services for many years as a Community Programme Officer. During this phase, she had the opportunity to travel to many districts and help resolve problems faced by transgenders. In 2009, Sudha took part in the AIDS conference at Mexico. Last week, she took part in the Asia Pacific Conference on AIDS in Bangladesh.
Bharathi Kannamma unsuccessfully contested from Madurai Central constituency in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. A few days ago, Kannamma announced that she would contest the Assembly elections from Madurai Central Assembly constituency.
NTK, led by film director Seeman, has announced Sri Devi, a transgender, as candidate for RK Nagar constituency while K Radhika (44), another transgender has sought the DMDK ticket for contesting from Salem West constituency. Radhika told Express that she has been an active cadre of DMDK for the past 10 years.
12 more Outfits support DMK
Chennai: The DMK on Thursday got support from 12 more outfits whose leaders met the DMK treasurer MK Stalin at the DMK headquarters and extended their support. TN Dargahs Peravai, Bharathiya Pazhangudiyanar Makkal Nala Sangam, Namadhu Kongu Munnetra Kazhagam and Dalit Padhukappu Peravai were among the supporters.
BJP still eyes tie-up with capt
Chennai: The BJP is still hanging on to DMDK founder Vijayakant for forging an alliance. And their justification for this is the earlier statement of Premalatha at the party’s Women’s Wing rally, that those accepting the leadership of ‘Captain’ could talk to him. BJP leader L Ganesan said the chief ministerial candidate would be decided once the poll deal was signed.
NCP to contest all 234 seats
Erode: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by former Union minister Sharad Pawar, will contest from all 234 constituencies in State, NCP State president G P Sarathy said on Thursday. The party’s State executive committee, at a meeting two months ago in Chennai, had decided to go face the Assembly election alone.