The Indian National Congress party has appointed Apsara Reddy, a transgender woman, as the National General Secretary of the All India Mahila Congress (AIMC). A journalist and activist, Reddy was selected by Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the presence of Lok Sabha MP and AIMC President, Sushmita Dev.

Reddy, as a journalist, has worked with eminent organisations like the BBC World Service, The Hindu, Commonwealth Secretariat in London[citation needed], New Indian Express and Deccan Chronicle.

Her new appointment, however, is not Reddy’s first step into politics — she has had stints with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). According to Reddy, she quit the BJP within a month as, “BJP is regressive and has no place for free-thinking individuals,” adding that “Congress is truly a party that built India and sustained us for generations with good policy and a sensitive and inclusive approach to governance. Rahul Gandhi’s commitment to the fair representation of women, women-centric manifesto goals and dynamism are truly inspiring, and I would be delighted to serve women across the country under his leadership.”

Commenting on the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill that was recently passed in the Lok Sabha, Reddy said, “The BJP government has this patronising attitude towards us. We don’t need charity; we need assistance to bridge the inequality meted out to us for far too long. They use words like rehabilitation. What the community truly needs is education and equal opportunity. Most importantly political recognition such as this by the Congress goes to show that Rahul Gandhi ji looks at us as a talent-pool and a worthy skill-set rather than a fringe group that needs pity. This is a good starting point for mainstreaming.”

Talking about women’s safety and women’s rights in India, Reddy said, “I will work with the Congress Mahila State Unit’s across India towards women’s economic empowerment, fighting against social injustices, helping women find their human rights and help contribute to the Congress party’s manifesto with women-centric policies. I am truly excited to work with the dynamic President of the AIMC, Sushmita ji as she embodies strength, courage and a contagious determination to do the right thing for women.”

Also read: Amid Protests in House, Lok Sabha Passes Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill