Reflecting their growing awareness and interest in exercising their democratic rights, third gender voters are increasingly making their presence felt as has been revealed by the data released by the Election Commission (EC) which said, the voter turnout in 2024 from this marginalised community stood at 25 per cent, a notable increase from the 14.58 per cent recorded in the previous Lok Sabha polls.
The EC's phase-wise data shows that while the first phase saw a turnout of 31.32 per cent, subsequent phases also witnessed considerable participation, ranging from 18.67 per cent to 34.23 per cent. This indicates a consistent engagement of the third-gender community throughout the electoral process, reflecting their growing awareness and interest in exercising their democratic rights.
“The increased voter turnout underscores the importance of addressing the needs and concerns of our community within the electoral framework. The trend also highlights the need for continued efforts to enhance accessibility, eliminate discrimination, and promote inclusivity in the electoral process,” said Rajan Singh , who identifies as a transwoman and was the national capital's first transgender candidate. With the slogan, Sauchalay se, Sansad tak' , Singh contested from the South Delhi constituency and received 325 votes, according to theEC data.
Though Singh's electoral journey may not have resulted in victory, he said, his candidacy signifies a voice in the democratic process, advocating for meaningful change and representing the aspirations of their constituency.
He said he was happy to have participated in the polls. "I knew from the beginning that I wouldn't win. But I filed my nomination, participated and raised our issues. This is how anyone starts their journey, and it's just the beginning," she said.
Narela-resident Pooja, also a transgender, who was in the fray from North-West Delhi and got 509 votes said “the participation was an experience for me, and my area residents did support me. I got enough votes to motivate me to continue my fight here.”
"We will be elected in the near future. If not as an MP then as an MLA," they said. As per the 2011 census, there are nearly 4,87,803 transgenders in the country.
