The transgender candidates polled over 400 votes each in the Karnataka state election in India last Sunday (5 May).

Chandni, who stood for election in Narasimharaja constituency in Mysore, came 9th among 16 candidates with 419 votes, Times of India reports.

‘I am happy that at least I have got better support than seven other candidates. I am grateful to my voters. At least some people have understood the plight of transgenders,’ she said.

Chandni (whose name is spelt Chandini in some reports and whose birth name is Aslam Pasha) campaigned on a platform of pensions, ration cards and voter IDs for the transgender community.

Across the state in Gandhinagar constituency in the capital city, Bangalore, another trans woman, or hijra, stood for election. Soumya polled 441 votes, The Hindu reports.

‘We are treated as castaways as we don’t have family support and no means to support ourselves. We face oppression from the administrative machinery. I want to fight for our rights,’ said Soumya about why she was becoming involved in politics.

While transgender politicians won’t be taking office yet, they do already have an accepted role in politics and business in India.

Many people believe it is auspicious to be blessed by people from the hijra community before undertaking new work. Election candidates visited them for blessings, the Deccan Herald reports.