Scripting history, Madhu— a third gender candidate contesting for the post of Mayor from Raigarh Municipal Corporation defeated rivals by more than 9,000 votes. Madhu was contesting as an independent candidate.
This is the first time in the history of Chhattisgarh that a third gender candidate won the Mayoral post. Madhu marked her victory with a whopping 4537 votes against BJP candidate Mahavir Chouhan alias Guruji. She bagged a total of 9500 votes. “I thank people of Raigarh for posing their faith on me. I would defiantly work for people in all the 48 wards of the city. I will also try to improve condition of poor and third gender people in Raigarh,” Madhu told reporters.
Madhu was locked in close contest with Mahaveer Chauhan alias Guruji of BJP and Jethuram Manhar of Congress. In addition,Siril Ghirtlehre of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Sewak Badhayi of Chhattisgarh Samaj Party were also in the fray for the mayoral post. While analysing results in Raigarh, senior journalist Alok Prakash Putul said “the result should be seen as expression of public disappointment towards both BJP and Congress. Raigarh being an industrial city has been politically active for a long time so people here have good understanding about politics.” According to Alok, rebels from both BJP and Congress had also supported Madhu who do not have a strong political background, he added. SR