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UP Polls: Radhika Bai Becomes 1st Transgender Candidate to Contest From Agra Cantonment Seat
Writer: Tashafi Nazir
For most people, journalism sounds hectic and chaotic. For her, it's a passion she has been chasing for years. With an extensive media background, Tashafi believes in putting efforts on presenting a simple incident in the most interesting way.
Uttar Pradesh, 18 Jan 2022 7:26 AM GMT
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Palak a journalism graduate believes in simplifying the complicated and writing about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. She calls herself a " hodophile" or in layman words- a person who loves to travel.
Creatives : Tashafi Nazir
For most people, journalism sounds hectic and chaotic. For her, it's a passion she has been chasing for years. With an extensive media background, Tashafi believes in putting efforts on presenting a simple incident in the most interesting way.
Bai filed her nomination papers from the seat on Monday, January 17, to raise voice for the transgender community. The 26-year-old aims to educate the ‘kinnars’ as she thinks they have the potential to do more than just dancing and begging on roads.
To bring attention and visibility to her community, a transgender person would be contesting from the Agra Cantonment assembly seat in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh polls, which are to be held in seven phases starting February 10.
Radhika Bai, also known as Akash Soni, on Monday, January 17, filed her nomination papers from the seat to raise her voice for the transgender community.
The 26-year-old claimed that she is the first transgender woman from Agra city to contest the assembly elections.
'Want To Serve Transgender Community'
Bai said that she aims to contest the polls to serve the people of the transgender community, who have been neglected by society over the years. She added that she wants to educate the 'kinnars' as she thinks they have the potential to do more than just dancing and begging on the roads.
"We too can live a respectable life in society by educating ourselves," she said, according to The New Indian Express.
Born and brought up in Agra, the transgender candidate has requested people to give her one chance as she wants to help this marginalised section of society.
Difficulties Faced By Transgenders During Pandemic
She also spoke about the hardships people faced for arranging even basic stuff during all waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Nobody came to the rescue of needy persons. They were struggling for food, medicines, etc. Whereas people from the transgender community helped the needy ones without any discrimination," she stated.
She expressed that they still had to pay for the electricity bills, house tax, water tax despite no source of livelihood.
Bai said she has entered the fray with the blessings of her 'guru' Bhavani Devi from Prayagraj to serve the needy, adding that she will campaign door-to-door while following proper COVID-19 protocols.
Elections for the 403 Assembly constituencies in the state will be conducted on February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27, and March 3 and 7 in seven phases. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.
Also Read: Harrowing Act! Tripura Police Asks Transgenders To 'Strip' To Prove Their Gender
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