| Office | Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
|
|---|---|
| Predecessor | Priyanka Chaturvedi
|
| Constituency | Maharashtra
|
| Born | Solapur, Maharashtra, India
|
| Political party | Shiv Sena (2022–present)
|
Dr. Jyoti Nagnath Waghmare is an Indian scholar, orator, Ambedkarite thinker, social activist, and politician affiliated with the Shiv Sena. She has been a member of parliament in Rajya Sabha since April 2026.[1][2][3][4]
Early life and education
Born into a Dalit Mochi family in Solapur, Maharashtra, Waghmare comes from a humble background. Her father, Nagnath Waghmare, was an active member of the Dalit Panther movement. To support the family, he worked as a hotel waiter and construction labourer. He was later elected as a corporator in the Solapur Municipal Corporation in recognition of his social work.[1][2][3][4]
Waghmare excelled academically despite modest circumstances. In the HSC (12th standard), she secured the first rank among backward class students in the Pune division and topped the state in the subject of Ardhamagadhi. She earned a PhD in English literature and received a state-level first prize for her research on issues related to women. She is proficient in five languages: Marathi, Hindi, English, Telugu, and Kannada.[1][2][3][4]
Academic and professional career
Waghmare worked as a college professor for over a decade, including as a faculty member at Walchand College of Arts and Science in Solapur. She began her public activities through human rights campaigns, the Vidrohi cultural movement, and the Ambedkarite movement. For a brief period, she worked as a news anchor. She has delivered lectures across Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh on the thoughts of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Shivaji Maharaj, and Basaveshwara.[1][2][3][4]
Political career
Waghmare started her political journey with local social work in Solapur and served as a corporator in the Solapur Municipal Corporation. She joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in April 2023 following the party split and was quickly appointed as the party's state spokesperson and district contact chief for Dharashiv (Osmanabad). Known as a firebrand orator, she frequently represented the party in debates and public forums.[1][2][3][4]
On 5 March 2026, the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde group) nominated her as its candidate for the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra, projecting her as an educated Dalit woman leader from western Maharashtra and a symbol of opportunity for grassroots workers. Her election was unopposed. During her oath-taking on 6 April 2026, she paid tribute to Savitribai Phule by wearing a traditional blue nine-yard saree with head covering, a nose ring, and a distinctive horizontal mark on her forehead. Her party has often referred to her as "Ladli Bahin" and "Babasaheb's beloved daughter," highlighting her role in promoting social justice and inclusive representation.[1][2][3][4]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Jyoti Waghmare: Ambedkarite scholar picked by Shinde for Rajya Sabha. Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2026-04-06.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 PhD in English, Ambedkarite activist and firebrand orator: Meet Jyoti Waghmare, Shinde Sena's Rajya Sabha candidate. The Indian Express(2026-03-05). Retrieved 2026-04-06.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Jyoti Waghmare: Shinde Sena's pick for Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra. The Hindu(2026-03-05). Retrieved 2026-04-06.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 कौन हैं ज्योति वाघमारे? जिन्हें एकनाथ शिंदे ने महाराष्ट्र से राज्यसभा चुनाव में बनाया कैंडिडेट, जानें सबकुछ. Navbharat Times. Retrieved 2026-04-06.