# Mahamandaleshwar of Kinnar Akhara, Sanjana Nand Giri, jumps into Madhya Pradesh's Datia bypoll race

> Sanjana Nand Giri, the Mahamandaleshwar of Kinnar Akhara, has announced her candidacy in the Datia bypoll in Madhya Pradesh, saying Maa Pitambara's blessing pushed her into politics and that she wants to make Datia fear-free. On the same day, Awadesh Nayak ended speculation by confirming his support for Congress in the same contest.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Politics · **Published:** 2026-07-19 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/politics/kinnar-akhara-ki-mahamndaleshvara-sanjana-nand-giri-datia-upachunava-ke-maidana-men-maa-pitambara-ka-ashirvada-bataya-vajaha-8747 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Datia bypoll, Kinnar Akhara, Sanjana Nand Giri, Madhya Pradesh, Maa Pitambara, Congress, Awadesh Nayak

A prominent transgender religious leader has stepped into the electoral arena in Madhya Pradesh, with Sanjana Nand Giri, the Mahamandaleshwar of Kinnar Akhara, announcing that she will contest the upcoming Datia bypoll. She said her political entry is essential to bring real change to the constituency, signalling a direct challenge to the parties already in the fray.

## "Maa Pitambara Chose Me"
Explaining her decision to join the race, Sanjana Nand Giri said, 
> Maa Pitambara chose me.
 The remark is a reference to the revered Pitambara Peeth in Datia, one of the region's best known shakti shrines, which she credited with guiding her towards public life. She added that her priority, if elected, would be to make Datia a fear-free constituency, indicating that citizen safety will sit at the centre of her campaign.

## Congress Camp Gets Clarity Too
The Datia bypoll saw another development on the same day, as Awadesh Nayak ended weeks of speculation by declaring his support for the Congress party ahead of the contest. His decision removes uncertainty over one of the key names being watched in the constituency and strengthens the Congress camp's position as parties finalise their strategy for the seat.

## Kinnar Akhara's Growing Public Presence
Kinnar Akhara, the transgender community's religious akhara, has increasingly stepped beyond purely spiritual gatherings such as the Magh Mela, where its Mahamandaleshwars and Aghori Kinnars have performed rituals including the Yoni Puja, and where transgender sadhus have taken part in holy dips at places like Prayagraj. Sanjana Nand Giri's Datia candidacy marks an extension of that visibility into mainstream electoral politics.

## What this means for you
- **Across India:** The candidacy adds to a wider trend of transgender religious leaders and community members stepping directly into electoral politics.
- **In Datia, Madhya Pradesh:** Local voters now face a clearer choice, with Sanjana Nand Giri promising a fear-free constituency and Awadesh Nayak contesting on a Congress ticket, both of which will shape the campaign in the bypoll.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Who is Sanjana Nand Giri?
She is the Mahamandaleshwar of Kinnar Akhara, a religious body of the transgender community, who has entered the Datia bypoll race in Madhya Pradesh.

### 2. Which seat is she contesting?
She is contesting the Datia assembly bypoll in Madhya Pradesh.

### 3. What did she say about her decision to join politics?
She said 'Maa Pitambara chose me' and that a political entry is vital for bringing change to Datia.

### 4. What is her key promise for Datia?
She has promised to make Datia a fear-free constituency if elected.

### 5. What news came from the Congress camp on the same contest?
Awadesh Nayak ended speculation by declaring his support for Congress ahead of the Datia bypoll.

### 6. What is Kinnar Akhara?
It is a religious akhara of the transgender community that takes part in major religious gatherings, including performing rituals like the Yoni Puja at the Magh Mela.

---
_TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._