Uttar Pradesh: Transgenders set to emerge as vote bank now

Transgenders in Uttar Pradesh are preparing to emerge as the new vote bank for the 2017 Assembly elections.

The transgenders will not only contest the Assembly polls in selected constituencies but will also vote together to show their strength to the political leaders.

“We will be holding a meeting at an undisclosed destination on April 28 to decide our future course of action. We are not disclosing the destination because we do not want politics on this issue. Transgenders, despite court directives, remain neglected and sidelined — politically and socially. We have problem in getting an identity for ourselves and it is a Herculean task to get a PAN card, a Aadhar card or even a ration card because there is no column for third gender in government forms. Schools and colleges in Uttar Pradesh do not offer third gender options,” said Seema, a transgender.

She pointed out that transgenders had problem in getting medical treatment. “We are demanding a separate unit for transgenders in every district because our medical issues are not the same as others,” she said.

She further said that transgenders remain politically isolated in Uttar Pradesh and her community will fight to end this problem.

“Gorakhpur got its first mayor Asha Devi, who was a transgender. Payal contested the Assembly election from Lucknow against BJP’s Lalji Tandon and got overwhelming support though she could not win. Despite this, political parties refuse to give tickets to transgenders and even ridicule us,” said Lalita, another transgender.

According to rough estimates, there are 5,000 to 15,000 transgenders in every major city and town in Uttar Pradesh and the total population is apparently sizeable.

“If even 10,000 people vote together for a candidate, it will make a definite impact and in the 2017 Assembly elections, we will make the political parties realise our strength,” said Lalita.

The transgenders in Lucknow will soon hold a flag march to assert their presence and then flash mob demonstrations too. This will also mark the beginning of the election campaign of Payal who will be contesting from Lucknow again.

“We are also drafting a letter in English, Hindi and Urdu which we will send to all political leaders and media houses. We will explain that our unity is our strength and how, despite the court order, we continued to be treated like pariahs,” said Payal.

She said that their campaign should not be scorned upon this time because the transgender community now means business.

“We will show the world what we can do if we decide”, she added.