Dalit, tribal groups demand representation in Rajya Sabha

Dalit and tribal communities in Telangana are questioning political parties over their exclusion from Rajya Sabha representation. Since the formation of the new state, no member from Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST) has been elected to the upper house, despite a history in undivided Andhra Pradesh where SC and ST candidates were sent to the Rajya Sabha once or twice.

For over a decade under BRS rule, SCs and STs have been overlooked, and now, with Congress in power, the same pattern seems to continue. Dalit and tribal associations argue that political parties rely on their votes to win elections but ignore them when it comes to Rajya Sabha or legislative council nominations. “Political parties need our votes to get MLAs and MPs elected, but when it comes to selecting Rajya Sabha or council members, we are considered unfit. No party seems willing to nominate us for the seats,” these groups said. They are demanding that social justice be maintained in the selection process for Rajya Sabha and legislative council members.

Currently, two Rajya Sabha seats in Telangana are set to fall vacant, both of which are likely to go to the ruling Congress party. While the party has a sufficient majority to secure one seat, winning the second seat will require support from other parties. Congress plans to collaborate with MLAs who joined from BRS along with MIM and CPI support to secure both seats. One seat is expected to be renewed for senior Congress leader and sitting Rajya Sabha member Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

For the remaining seat, seven to eight candidates are in the fray. The nomination process has already begun, with the last date for submission set for March 5, but Congress has not yet announced its candidates. Leaders from Dalit, tribal, and Backward Class (BC) associations, along with some party insiders, are demanding that social justice be upheld for the second seat as well. However, sources in Gandhi Bhavan indicate that Congress is attempting to assign the second seat to a candidate from the upper-caste (OC) community.

At present, Telangana has seven Rajya Sabha members: three from Congress and four from BRS. Among Congress members, Abhishek Manu Singhvi (OC), Renuka Chaudhary (OC), and Mandadi Anilkumar Yadav (BC) hold seats. BRS representatives include B. Pardasaradhi Reddy (OC), D. Damodar Rao (OC), K.R. Suresh Reddy (OC), and Vaddiraju Ravichandra (BC). The terms of Congress member Abhishek Manu Singhvi and BRS member K.R. Suresh Reddy will end on April 9.

Since the formation of Telangana, no political party has provided Rajya Sabha opportunities to SC and ST communities. Dalit and tribal leaders point out that just as the BRS neglected their communities for over ten years, the Congress party is following the same approach, raising concerns over the lack of social justice in political representation.