Chennai, Feb 3 (IANS): The AIADMK has fielded a transgender as its candidate in the upcoming local body elections for Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).

AIADMK women's wing leader N. Jayadevi, who is also the South Chennai district deputy secretary of the party will contest in the party symbol from ward 112 in Teynampet.

Its former ally BJP has also fielded a woman candidate with the party Mahila morcha leader, B. Rajamma becoming its candidate from Thiru Vi Ka Nagar's ward 76.

The DMK has also fielded a transgender candidate from Vellore for the Urban local body elections.

Political analyst and Director of Socio-Economic Development Foundation (SEDF), R. Padmanabhan, during an interaction with IANS, said: "This is a welcome trend and three major political parties in Tamil Nadu fielding transgender candidates is something we should be proud of as social and political workers and observers.

"The transgenders were looked down upon not in the distant future and from such a social situation to people from this community becoming candidates of mainstream political parties is a very positive sign as political churning is concerned."