Indian city smashes cultural taboos, elects first transgender mayor

A transgender, who earned a living by singing in Howrah-Mumbai trains scripted history by winning civic polls in Chhattisgarh, defeating nearest rival from ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Independent candidate Madhu won the mayor election of the Raigarh Municipal Corporation by 4,537 votes against BJP’s Mahaveer Guruji. Madhu, 35, belonging to Dalit community, is the first transgender person to get elected as mayor in the state. After winning, Madhu said people had shown faith in her and she will put best efforts to accomplish their dreams. Hundreds of thousands of transgenders in India face discrimination, abuse and often forced into prostitution. “I have seen that the roads of this city are in deplorable condition. There are many poor people also who don’t have a place to live. I want to fulfill their demands,” said Madhu, upon winning the election.

I would make sure that people of my community don’t do anything that causes shame to us and I would like to give them some opportunities so that they become economically independent.

Independent candidate Madhu

Asia-Pacific transgender mayor