Transgender candidate files nomination for sarpanch post in Telangana
Hyderabad: A transgender person has filed a nomination to contest for the sarpanch post in Telangana’s Mancherial district, marking a rare move in the ongoing gram panchayat elections.
Kumari Vaishali, a transgender resident of Venkatraopalli village, submitted her nomination for the sarpanch position, which is reserved for general women candidates. Local media reports confirmed that Vaishali belongs to the same village and has decided to contest in this round of elections.
Interestingly, Vaishali had previously filed a nomination as an independent candidate from Jainoor Assembly constituency during the last Assembly elections but withdrew before polling. Uncertainty remains over whether she will stay in the race this time.
Transgender sarpanch candidate draws public interest during campaign
As campaigning intensifies in several districts, candidates are employing creative tactics to attract voters. In a notable case from Manakondur in Karimnagar district, a sarpanch candidate engaged a group of hijras to lead their election campaign.
The candidate, believing that blessings from hijras bring success, first sought their prayers and later conducted door-to-door campaigning with their support. Their presence not only drew attention but also sparked curiosity among locals.
The gram panchayat elections have seen high voter engagement, with candidates across the state innovating their outreach strategies to gain support.
About The Author
