Telugu Desam Party general secretary and Andhra Pradesh IT minister Nara Lokesh, who is contesting as party candidate from Mangalagiri assembly constituency, will have to fight not only with sitting YSR Congress party MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, but also from a transgender.
On Monday, the last day for filing nominations, a transgender Tamanna Simhadri filed her nomination papers in Mangalagiri as an independent.
She is the first and only candidate belonging to third sex to contest the elections in Andhra Pradesh so far.
Tamanna, a native of Vijayawada, said she had decided to enter the fray to fight for the rights of her community.
“These days, elections have become a game for only rich and mighty. Only those with huge money power are able to become MLAs and MPs. I am only trying to put an end to this practice and show that even a transgender can champion the cause of the people,” she said.
The transgender candidate said she had no family and so, there was no need for her to run after money.
“I will be available to the people round the clock, if I am elected to the assembly,” she said.
Taking an indirect dig at the contest by Nara Lokesh, Tamanna said she would fight against the dynasty politics and money power. She preferred to contest as an independent, as she said she had no faith in any political party.
By the way, Tamanna is not uneducated. She had done her graduation from Indira Gandhi Open University. As per her election affidavit, she has no assets except a bank balance of Rs 50,000.