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{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Sofia Firdous
| office = Member of [[Odisha Legislative Assembly]]
| predecessor = [[Mohammed Moquim]]
| constituency = [[Barabati-Cuttack Assembly constituency|Barabati-Cuttack]]
| parents = [[Mohammed Moquim]]
| party = [[Independent politician|Independent]] {{small|(March 2026-Present)}}
| other_party = [[Indian National Congress]] {{small|(till 2026)}}
| alma_mater = [[Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology|KIIT]] ([[B.Tech]]) <br/>[[IIM Bangalore]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|23 August 1991}}
| birth_place = [[Cuttack]], Odisha
| term_start = 4 June 2024
| image = Sofia Firdous MLA (cropped).jpg
}}
'''Sofia Firdous''' (born 23 August 1991) is an Indian politician and a sitting member of [[Odisha Legislative Assembly|the Odisha Legislative Assembly]] from [[Barabati-Cuttack Assembly constituency|Barabati-Cuttack]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-04 |title=Barabati-Cuttack Election Result 2024 LIVE Updates Highlights: Assembly Winner, Loser, Leading, Trailing, MLA, Margin |url=https://www.news18.com/elections/barabati-cuttack-election-result-2024-live-updates-highlights-assembly-winner-loser-leading-trailing-mla-margin-8917101.html |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-04 |title=Barabati-Cuttack, Odisha Assembly Election Results 2024 Highlights: INC's Sofia Firdous defeats BJP's Purna Chandra Mahapatra with 8116 votes |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/elections/assembly/story/barabati-cuttack-odisha-assembly-election-results-2024-live-updates-2548473-2024-06-04 |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref> As a member of the [[Indian National Congress]], Sofia Firdous became the first woman from the [[Odia Muslims|Odia Muslim]] , as well as the first [[Millennials|millennial]], to be elected as a Member of the [[Odisha Legislative Assembly]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Election commission of india |url=https://results.eci.gov.in/AcResultGenJune2024/candidateswise-S1890.htm |url-status= |archive-url=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 June 2024 |title='Odia, Indian, and a woman first': Congress' Sofia Firdous on identity as 'Muslim MLA' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/odia-indian-and-woman-first-congress-sofia-firdous-on-identity-as-muslim-mla-101717923686214.html |access-date=2 September 2024 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2024-06-05 |title=Sofia Firdous becomes first ever Muslim woman MLA in Odisha |url=https://www.siasat.com/sofia-firdous-becomes-first-ever-muslim-woman-mla-in-odisha-3039036/ |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=The Siasat Daily |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-12 |title=सोफ़िया फ़िरदौस: ओडिशा की पहली मुस्लिम महिला विधायक जो जीत के बाद पहुँचीं दुर्गा मंदिर |url=https://www.bbc.com/hindi/articles/ck778klr0m7o |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=BBC News हिंदी |language=hi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-13 |title=સોફિયા ફિરદૌસ: ઓડિશાનાં પ્રથમ મુસ્લિમ મહિલા ધારાસભ્ય જે જીત્યાં બાદ મંદિરે ગયાં |url=https://www.bbc.com/gujarati/articles/c9ww0lddeweo |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=BBC News ગુજરાતી |language=gu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-11 |title=صوفیہ فردوس: اوڈیشہ سے اسمبلی پہنچنے والی پہلی مسلمان خاتون، جنھوں نے ہمیشہ مشکل چیزوں کا انتخاب کیا |trans-title=Sofia Firdous: The first Muslim woman to reach the Assembly from Odisha, who always chose the difficult things |url=https://www.bbc.com/urdu/articles/c0ddk91kmg0o |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=BBC News اردو |language=ur}}</ref> On 17 March 2026, Sofia Firdous was expelled from the Indian National Congress after defying the party whip by voting in favour of a candidate backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party in a Rajya Sabha election.<ref>https://theprint.in/politics/traitors-congress-expels-3-odisha-mlas-for-cross-voting-in-rajya-sabha-polls/2881305/</ref>

== Early life and education ==
Sofia Firdous was born on 23 August 1991 in Cuttack, Odisha. She is the daughter of [[Mohammed Moquim]], a former Member of the Odisha Legislative Assembly (2019-2024) from the Barabati-Cuttack Assembly constituency.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sofia Firdous(Indian National Congress(INC)):Constituency- BARABATI-CUTTACK(CUTTACK) - Affidavit Information of Candidate |url=https://www.myneta.info/Odisha2024/candidate.php?candidate_id=559 |access-date=2024-06-05 |website=www.myneta.info}}</ref> She completed her early education at St. Joseph's Girls's High School in Cuttack and [[Ravenshaw University|Ravenshaw Junior College]]. She later pursued a [[Bachelor of Technology]] in Civil Engineering from [[Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology]], KIIT University in Bhubaneswar, graduating in 2013. She furthered her education by completing an Executive General Management Program at the [[Indian Institute of Management Bangalore]], in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=affidavit.eci.gov.in |url=https://affidavit.eci.gov.in/CandidateCustomFilter?_token=DQVMsxtbpI1vru0XTGskHpeIytvAqnKtGJSCfPFP&electionType=24-PC-GENERAL-1-46&election=24-AC-GENERAL-3-47&states=S18&constId=90&page=2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-06-09 |title=Sofia Firdous: Odisha's first Muslim woman MLA, an IIM graduate, scripts history |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/elections/assembly-elections/odisha/from-iim-to-odishas-first-muslim-woman-mla-meet-history-maker-sofia-firdous/articleshow/110840910.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-06-11 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>

== Career ==

=== Early career and entrepreneurship ===
Before entering politics, Sofia Firdous was an established entrepreneur. She worked as a director at Metro Group, where she played a pivotal role in realty and asset development ventures.<ref name=":1" /> Her responsibilities spanned various facets of business, including operations, management, marketing, and overall growth. In addition to her entrepreneurial ventures, Sofia held significant positions in several business and industry organizations. She served as the President of CREDAI Bhubaneswar Chapter from 2023 to 2025,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mishra |first=Suranjan |date=2023-08-03 |title=Sofia Firdous elected as new president of Credai Bhubaneswar |url=https://sambadenglish.com/sofia-firdous-elected-as-new-president-of-credai-bhubaneswar/ |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=Sambad English |language=en}}</ref> becoming the first woman to lead a city or state chapter in the organization.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Credai Odisha |url=https://www.credaiorissa.com/committee.php |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=www.credaiorissa.com}}</ref> She was also the CWW East Zone Coordinator at CREDAI from 2019 to 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet Sofia Firdous, Odisha's First-Ever Woman Muslim MLA: 5 Facts |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/meet-sofia-firdous-odishas-first-ever-woman-muslim-mla-5-facts-5845284 |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=www.ndtv.com |language=en}}</ref> Her leadership roles extended to her involvement with the [[Confederation of Indian Industry]], where she was the Co-Chair at the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Bhubaneswar Chapter.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-06-09 |title=IIM passout Sofia Firdous, 32, is Odisha's first Muslim woman MLA |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/iim-passout-sofia-firdous-32-is-odishas-first-muslim-woman-mla/articleshow/110826617.cms |access-date=2024-06-11 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

Sofia was also an active member of the CII Indian Women Network (IWN) Odisha and a core committee member of the ICC INWEC Odisha.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet Sofia Firdous, Odisha’s first-ever woman Muslim MLA |url=https://www.coastaldigest.com/india-top-story/meet-sofia-firdous-odishas-first-ever-woman-muslim-mla?page=7 |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=coastaldigest.com - The Trusted News Portal of India |language=en}}</ref>

Sofia is also a trustee of the Moquim Foundation, an organization dedicated to social welfare and community service.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Express News |date=2024-04-25 |title=Odisha: Congress may field retired hurt Mohammed Moquim’s daughter from Cuttack-Barabati |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2024/Apr/25/congress-may-field-retired-hurt-mohammed-moquims-daughter-from-cuttack-barabati |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

=== Political career ===
Sofia Firdous entered the political arena in 2024, running as the [[Indian National Congress]] candidate for the Barabati-Cuttack Assembly constituency in the [[2024 Odisha Legislative Assembly election|Odisha Legislative Assembly elections]]. She won, defeating Purna Chandra Mahapatra of the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] by a margin of 8,001 votes. Carrying forward her father’s legacy, she retained her father Mohammed Moquim’s seat, as he had served as the MLA for Barabati-Cuttack from 2019 to 2024.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 June 2024 |title=Meet Sofia Firdous, first Muslim woman to win assembly election in Odisha |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/meet-sofia-firdous-first-muslim-woman-to-win-assembly-election-in-odisha-101717862853748.html |access-date=2 September 2024 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-06-10 |title=Odisha's first Muslim woman MLA Sofia Firdous calls her win a message of brotherhood |url=https://theprint.in/india/odishas-first-muslim-woman-mla-sofia-firdous-terms-her-victory-a-message-of-brotherhood/2125041/ |access-date=2024-09-02 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref> On 17 March 2026, Sofia Firdous was expelled from the Indian National Congress after defying the party whip by voting in favour of a candidate backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party in a Rajya Sabha election.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barman |first=Sourav Roy |date=2026-03-17 |title='Traitors': Congress expels 3 Odisha MLAs for 'cross-voting' in Rajya Sabha polls |url=https://theprint.in/politics/traitors-congress-expels-3-odisha-mlas-for-cross-voting-in-rajya-sabha-polls/2881305/ |access-date=2026-03-17 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Sofia Firdous married Sheikh Mairajul Haque, an entrepreneur based in Odisha who manages business in different states of India, in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gupta |first=Moushumi Das |date=2025-04-08 |title=Real estate dynamo to Odisha's 1st Muslim MLA, Congress's Sofia Firdous is making even rivals take note |url=https://theprint.in/politics/real-estate-dynamo-to-odishas-1st-muslim-mla-congresss-sofia-firdous-is-making-even-rivals-take-note/2582243/ |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Awards and honors ==

* Times Power Woman 2021{{cn|date=May 2025}}
* Times Power Woman 2023{{cn|date=May 2025}}
* Top 20 Inspirational Personalities of Odisha 2021<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=About Metro Group {{!}} Building Futures, Creating Success |url=https://metrogroup.ind.in/about-us/ |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=Metro Group |language=en-US}}</ref>

== See also ==

* [[Nandini Satpathy]]

== References ==
<references />

{{DEFAULTSORT:Firdous, Sofia}}
[[Category:Women in Odisha politics]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1992 births]]
[[Category:People from Cuttack]]
[[Category:Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology alumni]]
[[Category:Odisha MLAs 2024–2029]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Odisha]]
[[Category:Indian Muslim politicians]]

Sofia Firdous - Revision history

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