Cuttack, June 7: In a historic achievement, Congress candidate Sofia Firdous has become the first Muslim woman Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Odisha. She secured victory from the Barabati-Cuttack seat, succeeding her father and sitting MLA, Mohammed Moquim.
Firdous won the seat with a margin of 8,001 votes after a closely contested race against BJP’s Purna Chandra Mahapatra. This landmark victory marks a significant milestone for representation and diversity in Odisha’s political landscape.
The 2024 Odisha Assembly elections witnessed a significant political shift, with the BJP securing a majority by winning 78 out of the 147 constituencies, ending the long-standing reign of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) government led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik after 24 years. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has resigned following the Assembly election results.
In the broader context of the Lok Sabha elections, 24 Muslim candidates have secured seats across the country. Notably, TMC nominee and former cricketer Yusuf Pathan won a decisive victory over Congress veteran Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in Baharampur.
This triumph for Sofia Firdous and other successful Muslim candidates reflects a growing inclusivity in Indian politics.
