Menaka Guruswamy, TMC’s pick for Rajya Sabha, could become India’s first LGBTQ+ parliamentarian

The Trinamool Congress announced its candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, including Minister Babul Supriyo, former Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar, senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy and actor Koel Mallick on Friday (February 27, 2026).

“We extend our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to them. May they continue to uphold Trinamool’s enduring legacy of resilience and its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of every Indian,” the Trinamool Congress posted on social media.

Among the candidates, the most notable name was Menaka Guruswamy, who, if elected, would become the country’s first openly queer Member of Parliament.

Who is Menaka Guruswamy?

Ms. Guruswamy is a senior advocate at the Supreme Court of India, recognised for her unprecedented contributions to human rights advocacy in the country. One of her most notable achievements was her involvement in the landmark constitutional challenge against Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) dealing with same-sex relations. This provision, in effect since the colonial era, has long been a source of discrimination and stigma against the LGBTQ+ community in India.

In 2018, the Supreme Court of India delivered a historic judgment that decriminalised homosexuality by striking down part of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. Ms. Guruswamy, along with other dedicated lawyers, was instrumental in this legal battle, arguing for the recognition of individual rights and dignity and emphasising that love and consensual relationships between adults should not be subject to criminal sanctions.

The judgment was, indisputably, a defining moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement in India.

Beyond her legal work, Ms. Guruswamy’s personal life also reflects her advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. After the decriminalisation ruling, she publicly revealed her relationship with fellow advocate Arundhati Katju.

By openly sharing her relationship, Ms. Guruswamy became a vanguard of equality in the LGBTQ community, promoting a more inclusive environment for discussions around same-sex love and partnerships.

What are her odds of winning?

With numbers firmly stacked in its favour, the ruling TMC is set to win four of the five Rajya Sabha seats from West Bengal, while the opposition BJP is expected to secure one, as the announcement of the election schedule set off political manoeuvring and administrative preparations ahead of a high-stakes electoral season.

Given the current arithmetic in the 294-member Assembly, Ms. Menaka’s chances of making it seem largely pre-determined unless any party fields an additional candidate. Such a move would not only trigger a contest but could also inject some much-needed political drama just weeks before West Bengal heads into its assembly election campaign.

The biennial polls for the five seats, part of elections to 37 Rajya Sabha seats across 10 states, will be held on March 16.