Kajal Nayak, a 27-year-old transgender would contest from the Korei Assembly seat in Jajpur district as the candidate of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in the upcoming polls.
“I approached many political parties to give me a ticket to contest the polls. But they did not pay any heed to my pleas. However, the BSP decided to make me its candidate for Korei. The BSP believes in social empowerment, for which it allowed me to contest in the polls. I have already started my campaigning for it. Many voters are happy that I am contesting,” said Kajal.
The transgender pointed out that the Supreme Court in a decision in 2014 directed the Central and State Governments to amend laws to provide ‘right to marry’ for transgender persons. But the law is yet to be enacted. It is high time for the Governments to amend the laws to allow lesbian, transgender and gay marriages. “I will raise this issue in the State Assembly if the voters elect me,” said Kajal, who is president of the Transgender Association of Jajpur.
“Our country has a centuries-old history of the existence of transgenders. Most transgender people, especially youths, face great challenges in coming to terms with their gender identity. Most employers deny employment for even qualified and skilled transgenders,” rued Kajal.