Menaka Guruswamy, senior advocate and noted constitutional lawyer, took oath as a Rajya Sabha member along with 18 other newly elected and re-elected MPs. Her entry is as she has become India’s first openly queer Member of Parliament. The oath-taking ceremony was held in the Rajya Sabha chamber in the presence of the Chairman and other key parliamentary leaders.
Historic Representation in Parliament
Guruswamy was nominated by the Trinamool Congress and entered the Upper House through unopposed election. Her appointment marks an important moment for representation of the LGBTQ+ community in Indian politics. She is widely known for her role in the legal challenge that led to the decriminalisation of homosexuality in India through the reading down of Section 377 in 2018.
Other Members Sworn In
Several MPs from different states also took oath on the same day. These included members from West Bengal, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Odisha.
- West Bengal – Babul Supriya Baral, Rajeev Kumar and Rukmini Mallik.
- Maharashtra – Ramdas Bandu Athawale, Maya Chintaman Ivnate, Sharadchandra Pawar, Ramrao Sakharam Wadkute and Jyoti Nagnath Waghmare.
- Tamil Nadu – Christopher Manickam, Anbumani Ramadoss, Constandine Ravindran, L K Sudhish, M Thambidurai and Tiruchi Siva.
- Odisha – Santrupt Mishra, Dilip Kumar Ray and Manmohan Samal.
Parliamentary Context
The oath was administered even though Parliament was not in session, underlining the procedural importance of inducting members before the House resumes full work. The ceremony was attended by the Rajya Sabha Chairman, the Deputy Chairman and the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. The occasion also reflected the continuing renewal of the Upper House through staggered terms and state-wise representation.
Profile of Menaka Guruswamy
Guruswamy is a Supreme Court senior advocate and a Rhodes Scholar from Oxford University. She also holds a law degree from Harvard Law School and has taught at leading universities, including Yale, Columbia and NYU. She joined the bar in 1997 and has worked on several constitutional and public law matters. In 2019, she was named among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People.
Last Modified: April 28, 2026