BMC polls: 20 transgenders vote in Ghatkopar in Mumbai, say nobody will solve their problems

About 15 to 20 transgenders came to vote at RN Gandhi High School in Rajawadi.

They live in a small ground structure opposite a polling booth in ward 132 of Ghatkopar. On Tuesday, they exercised their franchise.

A transgender casts vote at a polling booth at Malvani, Malad on Tuesday. (HT Photo)

About 15 to 20 transgenders came to vote at RN Gandhi High School in Rajawadi. However, they trust no party to help them break the stereotypes in society.

“It is not like we are loyal to any party because nobody is going to solve our problems. However, we know it is important to vote,” said 41-year-old Sivagami Chettiar, who has been living in Ghatkopar for 25 years.

This election is also important for the community as it is for the first time that a transgender, Priya Patil, is contesting from ward number 166 in Kurla (west). “We support her but are not hopeful of changes. We belong to another ward. Also, we are south Indians and she is a Maharashtrian,” said Lalitha, the oldest among them.

“We do not have the wherewithal to contest elections. We lack basic facilities. We can only be hopeful of change,” added Sivagami .

The fight in this ward is between BJP’s Parag Shah and Congress’ sitting corporator Pravin Chheda. It has a mix of slums in Rajawadi, old buildings in Garodia Nagar, Sai Baba lane and high-rises in the Neelkanth Vihar.

Activists seek MPs’ support to oppose govt’s bill on transgenders