Meet Devi - a transgender contesting against Jayalalithaa

Chennai: When Tamil Nadu votes on May 16, one of the keenly-watched contest would be between incumbent Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and transgender C Devi (33).

Devi is contesting the Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2016 from the high-profile RK Nagar constituency on a Naam Tamilar Katchi ticket.

She contests the claim that she was given the ticket from the high-profile constituency just because she is a transgender.

“I have worked with Seeman’s Naam Tamilar Katchi ever since the party was floated. I empathise with the cause of Eelam Tamils and care about the general well-being of Tamils. I will strive to provide quality education and health care in the constituency,” she told The Hindu.

“Why should men and women alone decide the fate of our country? The third gender must also have a say in the affairs of the country, is it not?” she asked.

While Devi is realistic about her chances in the elections, she insists: “If this triggers a change in how political parties view the community, I will be happy.”

Her agenda is clear: uprooting the Dravidian parties and the Congress from Tamil Nadu.