AHMEDABAD: They know exactly when to smile, clap, look into the camera, sing, dance and attract attention. Now they have mastered another trick — contesting elections. Sonia Ajmeri nee Imran, a eunuch filed her nomination papers from the Shahpur Assembly constituency in Ahmedabad. Ajmeri did arrive in style — in a chariot with supporters in tow, clapping and shouting slogans.

“The country knows only two Sonias, the one in Delhi and the other right here, to serve you people,” said Sonia, while filing her nomination papers as a Republican Party of India (RPI) candidate from Shahpur. Revenue minister Kaushik Patel too is contesting from here.

A resident of Mirzapur, Sonia’s original name is Imran Ajmeri, who studied upto Class XII in an English medium school. Sonia is not new to politics. In 2002 Assembly and 2004 Parliamentary elections, Sonia contested, but lost. She, however, loved every bit of the experience. Now she claims she will take on Patel.

“RPI president Ramdas Athwale and his party launched a movement to eradicate corruption and fight against poverty and discrimination to minority and dalits in the society. Convinced by this ideology, I’ve joined RPI as its candidate and will give Kaushik Patel a run for his money,” Sonia told TOI.

“I have an army of my community members campaigning for me from Gujarat and rest of the country,” she said. But Ajmeri is a bit wary of the Election Commission and the code of conduct. She preferred not to discuss her campaign strategy and filed nomination papers as a ‘male’.

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