SUPER NARI – 25 She Leads, We Rise: The Nari Powering a New Tomorrow

Cover Design: Sudipta Mondal

[ Introduction: Indian politics has always found an exceptional pace in the context of gender representation. From the time of Charvaka to the present day, the subcontinent has consistently been shaped by figures who not only became aspirational leaders in politics but also emerged as role models for the sovereign. This trend continues with stalwarts like Annie Besant, Sarojini Naidu, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Sucheta Kripalani, Geeta Mukherjee, Indira Gandhi, Sushma Swaraj, Jayalalithaa, Mamata Banerjee, Mayawati, Atishi, Rekha Gupta, and many more. 

Through this series, we intend to capture the significant victories witnessed during the last electoral cycle (2024-2025) across the country. The purpose is not only to narrate these successes but also to develop a nuanced dialogue that decodes their political journeys.] 

In the stormy rhythm of India’s ever-evolving democracy, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections marked more than a political contest—it heralded a quiet revolution led by firebrand women who didn’t just contest power, but redefined its very spirit. From the bustling urban hotspots of Calcutta to the serene hills of Tura, five women rose—not as tokens of representation, but as torchbearers of transformation. 

They are not just politicians; they are symbols. Of grit, grace, and the audacity to challenge a patriarchal legacy. Each of them etched a new path, not only for themselves but for countless young girls who now dare to dream beyond the boundaries drawn for them.

A. SOFIA FIRDAUS – The Voice of Dignity from Odisha

“Cuttack’s daughter, Cuttack’s daughter-in-law”- Campaign Slogan of Sofia Firdaus

From the sacred land of Puri emerged Sofia Firdaus, a lawyer-turned-leader who brings not just legal acumen but also unflinching compassion into the arena. As the first Muslim woman from Odisha to contest an Assembly Seat, she didn’t just enter the Legislative Assembly—she walked in carrying the aspirations of millions who longed for justice, inclusion, and respect. 

Her campaign wasn’t built on noise but on nuance—talking about rights, secular harmony, and education. Sofia’s journey proves that dignity can be political currency and that grace can stand its ground against aggression. Sofia’s election is significant not only because she is the first Muslim woman MLA in Odisha but also because it highlights the state’s commitment to inclusivity and progress. She emphasizes her identity as a proud Odia and Indian, stating that her victory sends a message of brotherhood and unity.

Constituency Name: Barabati-Cuttack | Election: Assembly Election-Odisha-2024 | Margine-8001 votes  | Party: INC

B. SAYANTIKA BANERJEE – From Silver Screen to the Streets of Change

“ Boranagar er Ghorer Meye; Baranagarer Energy Sayantika Banerjee” 

A superstar in Bengali popular cultural cocoon, Sayantika Banerjee swapped scripts for streets when she decided to serve people directly. With charisma in her smile and steel in her spine, she took her fight to the heartlands of West Bengal, where culture and politics entwine. 

After losing a slick battle while facing internal sabotage from the party (AITC) in the 2021 Assembly election, she continued her journey as the sole star campaigner in the comparatively tough region of Bengal’s Junglemahal. While she was the prominent contender for the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Bankura, she was denied the Lok Sabha ticket due to internal political aspirations and the double standards of political fringe groups. 

Despite being denied the ticket, party chief and CM Mamata Banerjee was impressed with her caliber and committed to giving her a fair chance. This materialized in 2024, when she contested from the Baranagar Assembly as a bypoll candidate and became the first woman MLA from this traditional seat, which is considered one of the most politically aware bastions for electorates. 

She didn’t just win votes—she won hearts by bridging glamour with grassroots. Sayantika’s political emergence redefined how women from the arts can reimagine leadership not as a performance, but as a purpose.

Constituency Name: Baranagar | Election: Assembly-BYE-POLL-2024 | Margine: 8,241 votes | Party: AITC

C. SAMBHAVI CHOWDHURY – The Young Maverick Who Speaks the Youth’s Language 

“When I went to the constituency, I did not talk of caste or religion. I only talked about the development that has happened in Bihar in the last decade” . 

In an election often defined by generational fatigue, Sambhavi Chowdhury emerged like a spark—young, bold, and fiercely connected to the digital-savvy masses. A first-time candidate, she ran on a vision of modernity rooted in tradition. 

Whether it was advocating for employment or dismantling gendered barriers, Sambhavi did it with a fluency that resonated with India’s restless youth. Her presence in Parliament is a reminder: leadership is not about age, it’s about courage. Representing a comparatively backward Lok Sabha Constituency like: Samastipur, Her offering was quite unique. It gives a fresh political aspiration and inspiration as well. Sambhavi actually represents the politics of tomorrow where Gen-Z is attached TO the experiment.  

Constituency Name: Samastipur-Loksabha | Election: Lok Sabha Election-2024 | Margine: 1,87,251 votes | Party: JDU

D.  Dr. MEHTAAB CHANDEE A. SANGMA – The Silent Strength of the Northeast 

“The message is loud and clear that people have voted for change today, people have voted for development. This is what we as a party, the leadership encourages and this is what we have been promoting and I think the message is clear.” 

Often overlooked in the national narrative, the Northeast found a resonant echo in Chandi Sangma. Her rise from the green hills of Meghalaya is not just political—it’s poetic. Popular as the name of Chandi Madam she didn’t shout her slogans; she sang them through her service to local communities, especially women and tribal groups. 

She brought back the power of soft leadership—resilient, nurturing, and deeply rooted. Her win is more than a seat in the Lok Sabha. It is a seat at the table for voices that were long silenced. While making sure of her political debut with a comparatively hard battle from Gambegre (Nut-Meg Capital of Meghalaya). Her win became significant, as she also got elected and became the Important Office Bearer of the Nationalist People’s Party, The single national political outfit from the North-East. Her identity as CM’s wife and an adorable mother got camouflaged with this victory as the new voice of Garo Politics.  

Constituency: Gambegre | Election: Assembly BYE-POLL-2024 | Margine: 4,594 votes | Party: NPP

E. KALPANA SOREN – The endgame in Jharkhand 2024

“It is not in a Jharkhandi’s DNA to bow down.” 

Few names carry as much emotional resonance in Jharkhand as Kalpana Soren.  

Incumbent MLA from Gandey Assembly Seat and better half of the current Chief Minister Hemant Soren, Kalpana didn’t just carry his legacy—she transformed it. When power attempted to silence the tribal struggle, she stood taller, prouder, and fiercer. 

In 2019, when Hemant Soren and his party made a comeback in state politics, the photo of Kalpana Soren (as Madam-CM) was like a shy next-door neighbor who had signed up for an odd job. By 2024, she became the soul of JMM’s campaign in the state. While taking the huge responsibility of the Lok Sabha election on her shoulders, she reflected as the next pro-quo challenger in the political grammar of tomorrow. 

This continued with her journey into the second chapter of the 2024 state election. Here, she became the sole campaigner and voice for the state scheme—Maiya Samman Yojana. Her conviction was the true reason that JMM gained potential women voter support in the state and gave BJP a pause in Jharkhand, which was a breakthrough in the state’s electoral cycle. 

Her campaign was a beautiful blend of tradition and tenacity, drawing strength from the soil and speaking the language of the marginalized. Kalpana’s victory is a flame in the heart of India’s Adivasi movement, a fire that promises not to flicker. 

Constituency: Gandey | Election: Assembly Election-2024 | Margine:17,142 Votes | Party: JMM

The Glow They Bring to India’s Tomorrow

These five women—so different in background, yet united in purpose—have done more than just win elections. They’ve changed the conversation. All of them are representing a particular generation, They’ve shown India that leadership isn’t gendered. That compassion, conviction, and courage are not masculine traits, but human ones. 

Their presence in Assembly/ Parliament will not just influence bills and debates; it will shift narratives, inspire textbooks, and reshape little girls’ dreams across hamlets-urban/rural alike. It’s a glow that won’t just light up the Senet’s; it will illuminate the path ahead—for a more inclusive, empathetic, and bold India. 

This is not just the rise of women leaders.
This is the rise of leadership redefined. 

Our other articles : Caste and the Ballot in Bihar, The suicidal mission of Pakistan’s so called ‘Establishment’ , Bengal Bellwether, Who is Responsible for Bihar’s Migration Crisis? , Why Congress must go solo in Bihar ,  Jai Bhim | Old is Gold , Resurrection of ‘Dynasty Politics’ , China Faces 125% Tariff by USA: A Strategic Opportunity for India, When the Accuser Becomes the Accused