Who is Sofia Firdous? Odisha's pioneer Muslim woman MLA

In a historic turn of events, Sofia Firdous of the Congress party etched her name in Odisha's political annals by becoming the first Muslim woman MLA in the state's history. The 32-year-old, boasting degrees in management and civil engineering, clinched victory in the Barabati-Cuttack seat during the Odisha Assembly election results announced on June 4.

Firdous secured her triumph by defeating BJP’s Purna Chandra Mahapatra with a commanding margin of 8,001 votes in the fiercely contested Barabati-Cuttack constituency. Notably, Biju Janata Dal (BJD)'s Prakash Chandra Behra trailed in third place.

Political Lineage and Entry

The newly minted MLA hails from a politically inclined family, being the daughter of senior Congress leader Mohammed Moquim, who previously held the same seat until his disqualification due to a corruption conviction. Subsequently, the Congress strategically nominated Firdous to contest from the pivotal Barabati-Cuttack constituency.

Educational and Professional Background

Firdous brings a blend of academic prowess and professional experience to her political journey. She holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the esteemed Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology affiliated with KIIT University in Bhubaneswar. Furthermore, she enriched her skills by completing an Executive General Management Program from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM-B) in 2022.

Pre-Political Career

Before venturing into electoral politics, Firdous served as a director in her father’s Metro Builders company, showcasing her acumen in the realm of business and management. Additionally, she actively contributed to the Bhubaneswar unit of the Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (Credai), displaying her engagement in community affairs and development initiatives.

Political Transition and Family Legacy

Her ascent to political prominence follows her father’s electoral success in the 2019 assembly election, where Mohammed Moquim triumphed in the Barabati-Cuttack seat. However, his subsequent legal troubles culminated in a corruption conviction, leading to Firdous's foray into electoral politics to uphold the family's political legacy.