The Congress on Tuesday appointed transgender activist Apsara Reddy as a general secretary of its women's wing, making her the 133-year-old party's first transgender office-bearer at the national level.

Reddy, a well-known transgender journalist and activist, was appointed national general secretary of the All India Mahila Congress (AIMC) by party president Rahul Gandhi in the presence of Lok Sabha MP and AIMC chief Sushmita Dev.

As a transgender woman, Reddy has been involved in social activism and also has taken up cases of child rape, a statement said.

Reddy had earlier been part of the BJP and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

Apsara Reddy on being appointed as National General Secretary,All India Mahila Congress:All my life, transgender women have been told that you'll never be able to make it in your life. To be welcomed into one of India's largest & oldest national parties is hugely emotional for me pic.twitter.com/VMPrxnCFsV — ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2019

Welcoming Reddy to the Mahila Congress, the AIMC president said the activist's dynamic personality will be an asset for the party's women's wing.

"I thank Rahul Gandhi ji for accepting her as a member of the INC India family," she said.

Dev said Reddy is the first transgender national-level office bearer of the party.

The newly-appointed general secretary, Reddy, said: "I will meet with a cross-section of women to address issues pertaining to their rights."

"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," Reddy said.

(PTI)

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