Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 08:21am on 09 Jun 2024,Sunday Politics
Sofia Firdous, a former real estate developer, entered politics unexpectedly after her father, Congress MLA Mohammed Moquim, couldn't contest due to a conviction. With only a month before the Odisha Assembly elections, Firdous became the Congress candidate. Despite her novice status, she won, defeating the BJP's candidate by 8,001 votes. Her victory is notable as she becomes the state's first woman Muslim MLA. Firdous credited her success to her father's groundwork and the strong support from local residents, who unanimously endorsed her candidacy in recognition of her family's contributions to Cuttack.
