Broadening the political spectrum prior to elections.

The Congress in Kerala has launched its wing for the transgender community in a step aimed at broadening its political spectrum ahead of the local body elections due this year.The Kerala Pradesh Transgenders’ Congress (KPTC) – the party’s first cell for the sexual minority was launched at a function at the party’s state headquarters Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday in the presence of senior leaders Mullappally Ramachandran, Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala. Arunima Sulfikar, a first-year BA student at the University College,Thiruvananthapuram, is the president of the new outfit. Faisal Faisu and Devootty Shaji are the vice-presidents, Raga Ranjini is the secretary, while Benoy and Deepa Rani are the joint secretaries. A native of Kanjikuzhy in Alappuzha district, Arunima joined the Congress outfit after deserting the Communist Party of India (Marxist).