Tamil Nadu election 2026 | Reserved constituencies: procedural success, and yet a political struggle
The article discusses the challenges faced by reserved constituency representatives for Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) in Tamil Nadu. Despite constitutional provisions ensuring their political representation, many elected officials struggle to advocate for their communities due to party pressures and political survival. The piece highlights the need for broader accountability among all legislators to address social justice issues effectively.
- ▪The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has 46 reserved seats for SCs and STs, aimed at ensuring political representation.
- ▪Experts argue that while SC/ST representatives are present, their autonomy is often compromised by party dynamics and political pressures.
- ▪Historical advocacy for Dalit rights has diminished, with current representatives frequently conforming to party lines rather than addressing community-specific concerns.
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Reservation, as envisaged by the framers of the Constitution, was primarily intended as an affirmative action measure to ensure political representation for historically marginalised groups — specifically the Scheduled Castes (SC) and the Scheduled Tribes (ST).When the Constitution introduced reservation via Article 330 and Article 332, the goal was not just charity, but to ensure that those who had been excluded from the social fabric for centuries had a guaranteed seat at the table where laws were made.The 46 reserved seats in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly — consisting of 44 seats for SCs and two seats for STs—were born out of this mandate.Though the primary goal of proportional representation was achieved, a closer perusal of the intention reveals a significant gap between…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Hindu.
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