First Transgender Mayor in India, Know His Name

Madhu Bai Kinnar became India's first openly transgender mayor in 2015 after winning the Raigarh Municipal Corporation election in Chhattisgarh. Running as an independent candidate, she secured 33,168 votes, defeating her opponent from the BJP.

Akansha Arora Published On September 16th, 2024

India witnessed a historic moment when Madhu Bai Kinnar became the country’s first transgender mayor. Elected in 2015, her victory marked a significant step towards social inclusion for the transgender community. This achievement brought hope to many and underscored the changing societal attitudes in India.

First Transgender Mayer of India

Madhu Bai Kinnar became India’s first openly transgender mayor in 2015 after winning the Raigarh Municipal Corporation election in Chhattisgarh. Running as an independent candidate, she secured 33,168 votes, defeating her opponent from the BJP. Her victory came shortly after the Supreme Court of India granted legal recognition to transgender individuals, marking a significant step forward for the transgender community in Indian politics.

In which year Madhu Bai Kinnar Became First Transgender Mayor of India?

Madhu Bai Kinnar became India’s first openly transgender mayor in 2015. She won the Raigarh Municipal Corporation election in Chhattisgarh as an independent candidate, securing a historic victory shortly after the Supreme Court recognized the transgender community as a third gender in India.

Know More About Madhu Bai, First Transgender Mayor of India

Here are some key facts you must know about Madhu Bai Kinnar, the first transgender Mayor of India:

Madhu Bai Kinnar was born in 1980 and was originally known as Naresh Chauhan.
She left her family as a teenager to join the local transgender community in Raigarh.
Madhu belongs to the Dalit community, facing both caste and gender-related challenges.
Before politics, she earned a living by singing and dancing on the streets and in trains.
In 2015, Madhu won Raigarh’s mayoral election, securing 33,168 votes and defeating BJP’s Mahaveer Guruji.
She ran as an independent with a campaign budget of ₹60,000-70,000.
Her focus is on sanitation, cleaning lakes, creating parks, and improving city infrastructure.
Despite limited education, Madhu Kinnar rose to become a symbol of progress for the transgender community.
Her election followed the 2014 Supreme Court ruling that recognized transgender people as a third gender in India.