West Bengal: Maximum number of transgenders in Jadavpur. Will they vote for glamour or hardcore leaders?
Kolkata, Mar 20 (IBNS): The popular Jadavpur constituency of West Bengal is already in the news after Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee fielded Tollywood actress Mimi Chakraborty as her candidate. Now it is also buzzing for having maximum number of third gender people of West Bengal.
The community, which was represented as 'Others' in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, is having 1,426 votes in the constituency of south Kolkata.
In the last Lok Sabha elections, which was concluded by mid-May 2014, there was no clear mention of third gender, who are also known as "hijra" in the Indian subcontinent.
Who are third gender people?
In a judgement almost five years ago, the Supreme Court had clarified only the transgender people would qualify as third gender.
Why they are now listed?
In the 2014 judgement, the top court had granted legal recognition to the transgender or third gender people. It had also directed both the Centre and states for equal treatment socially, educationally and in public appointments.
Mimi Chakraborty (left) and Jadavpur's Left candidate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya (right)
The apex court also said the third gender people are entitled to all rights under the Constitution of India.
Will the community be deciding factor?
The community may not be the deciding factor in a constituency which has lakhs of electors but certainly it would be a moment of asserting own rights after years of non-recognition.
Who are contesting from Jadavpur?
In the south Kolkata seat, Mimi Chakraborty will be challenged by CPI-M's Bikash Ranjan Bhattarcharya.
Two other opposition parties in West Bengal- Congress and BJP- are yet to name a candidate in the seat, which was held by prominent politicians like late Somnath Chatterjee, Mamata Banerjee and Sujan Chakraborty.
It would be interesting to track which way the community goes in the constituency which is currently held by TMC's Prof. Sugata Bose.
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