Though the DMK government has implemented a slew of measures for the marginalised transgender community, they feel let down as two of their associates were not given the rare honour of contesting the upcoming Assembly polls by the DMK.
The two celebrity transgenders, Kalki Subramanian and Rose Venkatesan, who have been denied tickets by the DMK and DMDK, affirm that they have no plans of contesting as Independents and would even campaign for their parties.
“The government gave us ration cards and set up a welfare board and made an announcement about observing Transgender Day (April 15). But we cannot celebrate the day with enthusiasm as our expectation of getting the rare honour — that of a legislator — is not going to happen at least for the next five years,” says Rani, a transgender.
“But our meagre number of 868 in the electoral list could have been the reason for not fielding our members,“ reasons Meghala, her friend.
But, Kalki, founder-director of Sahodari Foundation, says, “I am not upset. In a way, I am happy that I could meet Chief Minister Karunanidhi and Deputy Chief Minister Stalin during the interview. I requested them for a ticket, otherwise a party post.”
She adds that she would campaign for the party “even if they don’t call me.”
Her friend Rose, who sought the DMDK ticket, made it clear that she has no plan of contesting as an Independent.
“Since Karur, for which I applied, has been allotted to the AIADMK, the party could not have accommodated me. But, I will campaign for my party,” she says.