Rajya Sabha oath ceremony: Pawan Khera, ex-TMC trio among new MPs sworn in
Synopsis
Three former TMC leaders — Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, and Prakash Chik Baraik — took oath as BJP MPs in the Rajya Sabha on the Monsoon Session's opening day, reinforcing the ruling party's Upper House strength. Their swearing-in, alongside Congress's Pawan Khera, was accompanied by Opposition sloganeering — a preview of the turbulence likely to define this session.
Key Takeaways
Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P.
Radhakrishnan administered oaths to newly elected MPs on 20 July , the first day of the Monsoon Session .
Pawan Khera entered the Upper House for the first time, elected from Karnataka on a Congress ticket.
Sushmita Dev , Sukhendu Sekhar Roy , and Prakash Chik Baraik — former TMC leaders — were sworn in as BJP MPs, boosting the ruling party's Rajya Sabha strength.
Opposition members resorted to sloganeering during the oaths of Sushmita Dev and Mahesh Kevat , causing a brief uproar.
New members from Mizoram and Meghalaya also took oath, reflecting the Northeast's representation in the fresh cohort.
Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan on Monday, 20 July administered the oath of office and secrecy to a fresh batch of newly elected members of the Upper House, marking the formal opening of the Monsoon Session. The swearing-in brought together legislators from across the political spectrum, including a prominent Congress spokesperson and three high-profile defectors from the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Who Took the Oath
Congress leader and spokesperson Pawan Khera was among the most closely watched inductees, entering the Upper House for the first time after being elected from Karnataka. Also sworn in were Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, and Prakash Chik Baraik — all from West Bengal — along with Mahesh Kevat from Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Mukesh Bhai from Gujarat, and Dr. Satish Poonia from Rajasthan.
Khiangte Laltluangkima of Mizoram and James Pagsang of the National People's Party (NPP) from Meghalaya also took the oath, adding a Northeast dimension to the session's opening day.
The TMC-to-BJP Switch and Its Political Weight
The swearing-in of Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, and Prakash Chik Baraik — three former TMC leaders who switched allegiance to the BJP — drew considerable attention. Their entry into the Rajya Sabha as BJP members strengthens the ruling party's numerical standing in the Upper House and signals a continued expansion of its footprint in Eastern India. This is the latest in a series of high-profile crossovers from TMC to BJP in recent months, a pattern that has reshaped the political arithmetic of the House.
Uproar During Oath-Taking
The ceremony was not without friction. When Sushmita Dev and Mahesh Kevat rose to take their oaths, members from the Opposition benches broke into sloganeering, creating a charged atmosphere in the chamber. Both MPs completed their oath amid the uproar. The disruption reflects the heightened political tensions that have characterised the opening days of recent parliamentary sessions.
Context and What Comes Next
The biennial elections that produced this cohort were held recently, and several other newly elected members had already been sworn in prior to the formal commencement of the Monsoon Session. With the new members now formally inducted, the House's composition is updated ahead of what is expected to be a contentious legislative calendar. The newly sworn-in MPs were welcomed by the Chairman and fellow members, who extended wishes for their parliamentary innings.
Point of View
Where the BJP has historically struggled to build majority. Pawan Khera's entry, meanwhile, gives Congress a sharper media voice inside Parliament. But the Opposition sloganeering during oath-taking — a procedural low point — signals that the Monsoon Session will be defined less by legislation and more by confrontation.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the notable MPs sworn into the Rajya Sabha on 20 July?
Among the most prominent were Congress leader Pawan Khera, sworn in from Karnataka, and three former TMC leaders — Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, and Prakash Chik Baraik — who took oath as BJP members. MPs from Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Mizoram, and Meghalaya were also inducted on the same day.
Why is the swearing-in of Sushmita Dev and others politically significant?
Sushmita Dev, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, and Prakash Chik Baraik are former Trinamool Congress leaders who switched to the BJP. Their entry into the Rajya Sabha as BJP MPs strengthens the ruling party's numbers in the Upper House and marks a continued expansion of its presence in Eastern India.
What caused the uproar during the oath-taking ceremony?
Opposition members broke into sloganeering when Sushmita Dev and Mahesh Kevat rose to take their oaths, creating a charged atmosphere. Both MPs completed their swearing-in despite the disruption.
Who is Pawan Khera and why does his Rajya Sabha entry matter?
Pawan Khera is a senior Congress spokesperson known for articulating the party's position on national issues. His election from Karnataka and entry into the Rajya Sabha marks his first stint in the Upper House, giving the Congress a high-profile media voice within Parliament.
What is the significance of this oath ceremony for the Monsoon Session?
The swearing-in formally updates the Rajya Sabha's composition ahead of the Monsoon Session's legislative agenda. With new members from multiple states and parties now inducted, the House's political balance — particularly the BJP's strengthened numbers — will influence the passage of key bills during the session.
