Vijayapura: The ongoing Sindgi by-poll is witnessing unprecedented political development as a first ever woman candidate is making waves in the constituency.
32-year-old Naziya Shakeel Ahmed Angadi, who has been declared as candidate of JD(S), will be the first woman ever to contest for Sindgi assembly. In the history of assembly elections of Sindgi segment no woman has ever contested MLA election from a major political party.
Naziya has become the second Muslim female candidate to contest in assembly polls in the Vijayapura district.
Earlier to her, Reshma Padeknur had contested in assembly polls. Interestingly, she contested on the JD(S) ticket. However, she lost the election. Later, she joined Congress.
Since the JD(S) has declared Naziya Angadi as its candidate, she is elated. As she has already filed her nomination papers, she is now hectically participating in the campaign to woo the voters for the election to be held on October 30.
Naziya Angadi, a post-graduate, said that, “I am short of words to express my joy for getting an opportunity to contest the assembly by-elections. I thank JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H. D. Devegowda and former CM H. D. Kumaraswamy for blessing me with a ticket. I just do not represent the JD(S) party but the entire women community of the Sindgi segment.”
“It is a good sign that women are getting more representation and opportunities at the highest level in politics. I not only seek support from the women but also from the men community to back me in the by-polls. If I win the by-polls I have plans to work on encouraging women’s education mainly in rural and minority communities, where parents prevent the girl child from getting higher education because of social issues.”
“I might not have the experience in politics but my family has a history of serving the people. Many members in my family are elected members in Gram Panchayat and Town Municipal Council. My father-in-law I. B. Angadi has dedicated his entire life to social work. My family has given me complete freedom and support. I am confident that I will create history in the by-polls,” stated elated Naziya.
It may be noted that in the history of politics in Vijayapura hardly four women have contested the major elections so far. Vimalabai Deshmuk, representing Janata Parivar, is the first woman politician to contest the assembly elections from a major political party in 1994, who won and also served as Minister for Women and Child Welfare in J. H. Patel government. However, thereafter she contested many polls but couldn’t make it to the legislative assembly another time.
Lakshmibai B Gudadini is the second woman to contest a major political battle, where she representing Congress fought parliament elections but failed to win in 1999. Thereafter, Reshma Padekanur from JD(S) contested 2013 assembly elections from Devara Hipparagi but couldn’t succeed in winning the polls. Sunita Chavan, wife of JD(S) MLA Devananda Chavan, contested as an alliance candidate (Congress and JDS) in the 2019 parliament elections but lost against six-time parliamentarian Ramesh Jigajinagi.
Meanwhile, Congress has opted Ashok Managuli, son of former minister M. C. Managuli, as its representative and BJP is yet to announce its candidature for the by-polls.
