Q Manivannan, a non-binary anthropologist from Tamil Nadu, has made history by becoming the first queer Tamil immigrant to be elected to the Scottish Parliament.
Manivannan, who secured victory in Thursday's polls from the Scottish Green Party, is an India-born student who studied liberal arts and humanities at OP Jindal Global University.
Despite not holding permanent residency or British citizenship, Manivannan was able to contest due to a rule change allowing foreigners with short-term visas to stand for election in Scotland.
Manivannan won from Edinburgh and Lothians East in the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections and aims to bring 'politics of care and compassion' to working-class and marginalised communities.
They hold a PhD in Politics and work in the arts sector, and are also the co-convenor of the Socialist Green Party's Palestine Solidarity Group.
