Wangtum H Lowang
Arunachal Pradesh is a land of remarkable diversity, home to more than 20 tribes and over 100 sub-tribes. While it is neither practical nor possible to ensure parliamentary representation for every tribe, it is both achievable and desirable to ensure that all major regions of the state are fairly represented in national decision-making.
Broadly, Arunachal Pradesh may be viewed as comprising four major regions: Western Arunachal (from Tawang to Pakke-Kessang), Central Arunachal (from Papum Pare to Upper Siang), Eastern Arunachal (from Dibang Valley to Namsai), and South-Eastern Arunachal comprising Tirap, Changlang, and Longding (TCL).
Since Arunachal Pradesh’s first Rajya Sabha election in 1978, representation in the Upper House has come primarily from the Central and Eastern regions. Central Arunachal has produced five Rajya Sabha Members, while Eastern Arunachal has produced two. In contrast, the TCL region remains the only major geopolitical region of the state that has never been represented in the Rajya Sabha.
For nearly five decades, Tirap, Changlang, and Longding have remained absent from Arunachal Pradesh’s Rajya Sabha journey despite their significant contributions to the state’s development, security, and cultural heritage. Located along the international border with Myanmar, the region occupies a strategically important position and is home to vibrant indigenous communities whose perspectives deserve a place in national policymaking.
The call for a Rajya Sabha representative from TCL is not a demand for special treatment, nor is it directed against any tribe, district, or region. It is simply a call for equitable regional representation. Every major region of Arunachal Pradesh should have an opportunity to contribute its voice, aspirations, and experiences to the Parliament of India.
The present Rajya Sabha election offers a unique opportunity to correct this long-standing imbalance. Out of the twelve candidates who have filed nominations, eleven belong to regions that have already enjoyed Rajya Sabha representation. Only one candidate comes from the TCL region.
This fact carries special significance. Not only has TCL never sent a representative to the Rajya Sabha, but this is also among the very few occasions—if not the first—when the region has produced a serious candidate for consideration. As such, this lone candidature represents far more than an individual political aspiration. It symbolizes the hopes and aspirations of an entire region that has patiently waited for nearly fifty years to be included in the state’s parliamentary representation.
Electing the next Rajya Sabha MP from TCL would therefore be more than the selection of a candidate. It would be a historic step toward ensuring balanced regional representation in Arunachal Pradesh. It would affirm the state’s commitment to inclusivity, fairness, and equal participation, while sending a powerful message that every major region matters and deserves a seat at the national table.
The question before the electors is not merely who should occupy the Rajya Sabha seat. The larger question is whether the only major region of Arunachal Pradesh that has remained unrepresented since 1978 should finally be given its rightful opportunity to contribute to national policymaking.
After nearly five decades, the case for TCL’s first Rajya Sabha representative is compelling. The time has come to complete the circle of representation in Arunachal Pradesh. The next Rajya Sabha Member from Arunachal Pradesh should be from the TCL region. (The writer is Director of Nocte Digest)
