Rijiju, MPs Rally on Badminton Court at Constitution Club
Synopsis
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju joined MPs Anurag Thakur, Rajiv Shukla, Naveen Jindal and others at the 6th National Parliamentarians Badminton Championship at the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi, highlighting cross-party sporting camaraderie among lawmakers.
Key Takeaways
The 6th National Parliamentarians Badminton Championship was held at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi on 7 August 2026 .
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju participated alongside a cross-party group of MPs including Anurag Thakur , Rajiv Pratap Rudy , Rajiv Shukla , Naveen Jindal , and Meet Hayer .
The Constitution Club of India , established in 1947 , coordinates social, cultural and sports activities for parliamentarians.
The championship aims to promote fitness, camaraderie and healthy competition among Members of Parliament across party lines.
The event reflects a broader pattern of Constitution Club-organised sports fostering informal cross-party interaction among Indian lawmakers.
When ministers and members of parliament swap the floor of the House for a badminton court, something quietly important is happening. Union Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju joined fellow MPs at the 6th National Parliamentarians Badminton Championship on 7 August 2026 at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi — a tournament designed to build fitness, fellowship, and a little friendly rivalry across party lines.
Rijiju was accompanied by a cross-party roster of lawmakers: BJP MP Anurag Thakur, the former Union Sports Minister who championed several national athlete-development programmes; Rajiv Pratap Rudy, senior BJP parliamentarian; Rajiv Shukla, Congress MP and former Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs with deep roots in cricket governance; industrialist-turned-politician Naveen Jindal; and Meet Hayer, among other Members of Parliament. The event was coordinated through the Constitution Club's sports secretariat.
What the Constitution Club of India Brings to the Court
Founded in 1947, the Constitution Club of India has long served as the social and cultural nerve centre for parliamentarians — hosting debates, cultural evenings, and crucially, organised sport. The Parliamentarians Badminton Championship is one of its flagship sporting fixtures, offering MPs a structured arena for physical activity and informal cross-party engagement that the chamber's adversarial format rarely allows.Cross-Party Rackets, One Shared Shuttlecock
The sight of a BJP heavyweight like Anurag Thakur sharing a sporting event with Congress's Rajiv Shukla is precisely the point. Indian parliamentarians have periodically used Constitution Club-organised sports events to foster the kind of informal camaraderie that smooths legislative cooperation behind the scenes. Rijiju, who as Parliamentary Affairs Minister is literally responsible for managing the government's relationship with both Houses, called the championship 'a wonderful initiative to promote sports, fitness and camaraderie among Members of Parliament, while fostering greater engagement through the spirit of healthy competition.' For a minister whose daily brief is parliamentary coordination, a badminton net turns out to be an unusually effective diplomatic tool.Point of View
Whose effectiveness depends on back-channel trust across party lines. The cross-party attendance, spanning BJP's Anurag Thakur and Congress's Rajiv Shukla, signals that informal sporting diplomacy remains a valued tool in India's parliamentary culture. At a time when floor relations between treasury and opposition benches are frequently strained, events like this serve a quiet but real function. The Constitution Club's continued stewardship of such initiatives keeps the tradition institutionalised rather than ad hoc.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the National Parliamentarians Badminton Championship?
It is an annual badminton tournament organised for Members of Parliament by the Constitution Club of India in New Delhi, designed to promote fitness and camaraderie among lawmakers.
Where is the Constitution Club of India located?
The Constitution Club of India is located in New Delhi and was established in 1947 as a members' club for parliamentarians hosting social, cultural and sports activities.
Which MPs participated in the 6th Parliamentarians Badminton Championship?
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju , Anurag Thakur , Rajiv Pratap Rudy , Rajiv Shukla , Naveen Jindal , and Meet Hayer were among the MPs who participated.
Who is Anurag Thakur and what is his connection to sports?
Anurag Thakur is a BJP MP from Himachal Pradesh and former Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, known for overseeing multiple national sports promotion programmes during his tenure.
Why does Kiren Rijiju's participation in a sports event matter?
As Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister , Rijiju's role centres on managing the government's relationship with both Houses of Parliament; his participation underscores the value of informal, cross-party engagement that sporting events uniquely enable.
