Video/Photos: India elects its first transgender mayor

When many developing countries are still discriminating on the LGBT communities; India just elected its first transgender mayor:

Just months ago she was scratching out a living singing and dancing on trains for a few rupees from commuters.

But now Madhu Bai Kinnar is leading her community as India's first transgender mayor - a dramatic election result that upends cultural mores in the traditionally conservative country.

Kinnar won the election in Raigarh in the central state of Chhattisgarh on Sunday, beating her rival from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by more than 4,500 votes.

Television pictures showed the 35-year-old draped in a saree and with a large red bindi on her forehead, folding her hands and greeting supporters who placed marigold garlands around her neck amid strobing camera flashes.

Kinnar, a member of the Dalit caste previously known as the 'untouchables', put herself forward for election when she was asked to represent her community.

'People have shown faith in me. I consider this win as love and blessings of people for me. I’ll put in my best efforts to accomplish their dreams,' Kinnar said.

It was the public support that encouraged me to enter the poll fray for the first time and because of their support, I emerged as the winner

'It was the public support that encouraged me to enter the poll fray for the first time and because of their support only, I emerged as the winner.'

Kinnar's win comes nine months after India's top court ruled that transgenders be legally recognised as gender-neutral.

Often known as 'hijras' in South Asia, transgenders are classified as people who have had sex change operations or who regard themselves as the opposite of their born gender. Culled