In elections as in life: Eunuch to fight alone

Among those who are gearing up to contest the civic elections is Anita, a 59-year-old eunuch. Anita had approached the BSP for a ticket but is considering contesting independently because she is yet to hear from the party. Neelam Pandey reports.

Among those who are gearing up to contest the civic elections is Anita, a 59-year-old eunuch. Anita had approached the BSP for a ticket but is considering contesting independently because she is yet to hear from the party.

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Anita wants to contest from south Delhi's Sangam Vihar, which now has a BJP councillor.

"I had asked the BSP to consider my candidature. The party has announced a few names, which doesn't include mine. If I don't get a ticket from the party, I'll contest as an Independent," Anita said.

She is so far the only eunuch to have applied to any of the parties for contesting the elections. Anita's move follows the Delhi State Election Commission's March 15 decision to allow eunuchs to contest the polls next month. The panel said they could contest the elections as per their status in the voters' list.

In the recent Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, a eunuch had contested as an Independent from Faizabad.

Rakesh Mehta, the state election commissioner, had said a eunuch whose sex in the voters' list has been mentioned as "other" can contest the elections under the general category. The voters' list mentions at least 181 such "others".

"Most councillors have families to look after. But for us, there is no one. I will, therefore, be able to work for my area and people better," Anita said.