Apsara Reddy joins Congress, becomes first transgender officebearer of party

Journalist-turned-politician Apsara Reddy joined the Congress on Tuesday and became the first transgender woman to be an office-bearer of the 134-year-old party. Reddy has been appointed as the national general secretary of its women wing - All India Mahila Congress (AIMC). She joined the party in presence of party president Rahul Gandhi and Lok Sabha MP and AIMC President Sushmita Dev.

A photo of Reddy with Gandhi and Dev was tweeted by the Congress. All India Mahila Congress also tweeted about her joining the party. "Welcoming Apsara Reddy to @MahilaCongress As @sushmitadevmp puts it the path for inclusivity comes through acceptance and compassion beyond the set societal norms.#Womenpositive," the tweet reads.

Apsara Reddy has been appointed the first transgender National General Secretary of @MahilaCongress by Congress President @RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/qDTZSgaoMH

— Congress (@INCIndia) January 8, 2019

"I will campaign vociferously against the fascist BJP dictatorship that drives a coloured agenda that reduces people to what they eat, how they pray and how they love," Reddy said after joining the Congress. "I will work towards women's economic empowerment, against social injustices and helping women find their human rights," she added. 

Reddy, an advocate of transgender's rights, started his career as a journalist and worked with various news organisations including BBC World Service, The Hindu, etc. She became extremely popular with her celebrity-chat show Natpudan Apsara. Later, she entered into the politics by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party after meeting Amit Shah. However, she left the party within a month’s time saying 'I felt I was just a photo opportunity for them on Women’s Day.' Later, she joined the AIADMK.