'Very often women are better than men'

Lawyer Bader Sayeed was a surprise All India [ Images ] Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam [ Images ] candidate for the prestigious Chennai South constituency.

Chennai South, which has sent stalwarts like C N Annadurai, T T Krishnamachari and R Venkataraman to Parliament, has of late become a strong bastion of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

T R Baalu, former Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam minister at the Centre, is the sitting MP from here.

Bader Sayeed, an advocate, is also the first woman chairperson of the Tamil Nadu Wakf Board.

A schoolmate of Jayalalitha, 54-year-old Bader Sayyed is a grandmother. She has two children. Her son is an engineer working in the US and her daughter is a lawyer in Singapore. Sayeed spoke to Special Contributing Correspondent Shobha Warrier.

You joined the AIADMK just a couple of years ago. Now you have been nominated as a candidate from the most prestigious constituency in Tamil Nadu. Did the nomination come as a surprise to you?

Yes, it was a surprise. I think the chief minister (J Jayalalithaa [ Images ]) has honoured me by giving me the nomination.

Was it because you were her classmate that she chose you?

Do you feel that is the only reason? Do you think I am not competent? Madam Jayalalithaa thought I was competent.

Yes, we were schoolmates. I think school friends never forget each other. We are all from Churchpark (school) and we have a special bond with Churchpark.

ALSO READ: 'With me Jayalalithaa can relax'

Had you two been meeting quite often?

Sometimes.

Was she responsible for you joining the party?

Yes. She asked me and I did. I look upon her as my role model. I always think she is a very courageous woman, and she is the greatest chief minister we have had.

Chennai South is dominated by Brahmins. Being a Muslim do you find this a disadvantage?

Not at all. I have never felt they looked at me as a Muslim. They are all enlightened and educated people. I have felt no discrimination. How are they different from the others? I am a hundred percent sure they will appreciate an educated and committed person like me.

You are a lawyer by profession. How difficult is campaigning? As a woman, have you felt discriminated against?

It is as difficult as any other job. But you have got to overcome all the difficulties to achieve something.

I always believe that women are equal to men. Better than men very often. I am no different from other candidates. I feel the way they feel. Yes, you would be physically tired and mentally fatigued. Otherwise, I have not seen any special disadvantage. I have all the support from the party, and that makes all the difference.

All the opinion polls say the DMK-led front is going to sweep the election in Tamil Nadu.

I don't believe in opinion polls. I have never believed in them.

Chennai has been a DMK bastion.

These bastions fall very often. I am sure this bastion is also going to fall, and I am going to win.

The general talk is that it is going to be a walkover for T R Baalu.

You just wait and see. The result will see for whom it is a walkover.

You are the first woman chairperson of the Tamil Nadu Wakf Board. How challenging is the post?

That post was very challenging. We have set the house in order. I am sure the Muslim citizens of the state will vouch for me. It was Madam Jayalalithaa who picked me and told me you need to do it. You have my support.

I have just now resigned from the post. That is because I am standing for the election. Propriety demands I don't have another post while I am campaigning.

Photograph: Sreeram Selvaraj | Image: Rahil Shaikh