In a landmark achievement, Sofia Firdous, a 32-year-old Congress candidate, has made history by becoming the first Muslim woman elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Odisha.

Odisha’s first Muslim woman MLA – Sofia Firdous

The results of the Odisha Assembly elections, declared on June 4, 2024, saw Firdous secure the Barabati-Cuttack seat. She triumphed over BJP’s Purna Chandra Mahapatra by a margin of 8,001 votes, with Biju Janata Dal (BJD)’s Prakash Chandra Behera finishing third.

Firdous’s victory marks a significant milestone in Odisha’s political landscape. Her election is not only a triumph for her party but also symbolizes the increasing diversity and representation within the state’s legislative body. As the daughter of senior Congress leader Mohammed Moquim, who previously held the same seat, her win carries forward a legacy, albeit under different circumstances following her father’s disqualification due to a corruption conviction.