Congress Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chowdhury finds herself in the eye of a political storm once again, this time for her attempt to bring a rescued stray dog into the Parliament complex. The incident has sparked a major controversy, with BJP members reportedly planning a privilege motion against her. Unfazed, the outspoken leader from Telangana retorted with a symbolic "bhow bhow," questioning the priorities of a political discourse that focuses on an animal while, in her view, more serious issues persist within the government.
A Defiant Stance and a Controversial Entry
The recent row began when Chowdhury, 71, brought a stray dog to Parliament, stating she had rescued it on her way. Defending her action, she pointedly remarked, "Those who bite are sitting inside Parliament and running the government. Is there no problem with that? But if I care for an animal, it becomes a national discussion." The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also stepped in, seemingly in her defence, amplifying the political significance of the episode.
This incident is merely the latest chapter in the long and often turbulent career of a leader known for speaking her mind without filter. Her political journey, marked by defiance and controversy, began under the mentorship of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) founder and cinematic legend, N.T. Rama Rao (NTR).
The Formative Years: NTR's Protégé and Rayalaseema Grit
Renuka Chowdhury was a homemaker when she first entered the political fray during the 1984 internal coup within the TDP. When Nadendla Bhaskar Rao revolted and became Chief Minister in NTR's absence, Chowdhury took to the streets with supporters, challenging the new leadership in public meetings. Her courage impressed NTR after he regained power, and he soon facilitated her election as a TDP corporator from a Jubilee Hill ward in Hyderabad.
NTR's faith in her was evident when, in 1986, he ensured her election to the Rajya Sabha even while she served as a corporator. He believed she would excel in national politics, and she served two consecutive terms in the Upper House until 1998, also acting as the TDP's chief whip there. Her mettle was tested when she campaigned alone for the TDP in the politically volatile Rayalaseema region, then dominated by Congress heavyweights Kotla Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy and Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. She faced violence but stood her ground, earning NTR's praise for her bravery.
Her ministerial career began as the Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare in 1997-98 under the H.D. Deve Gowda-led United Front government. However, after NTR's son, N. Chandrababu Naidu, took over the TDP in 1995, Chowdhury was sidelined for being perceived as a "loose cannon." This led to her exit from the TDP and her joining the Congress party towards the end of 1998.
Congress Tenure, Advocacy, and Legal Battles
In the Congress, Chowdhury won the Lok Sabha seat from Khammam in 1999 and retained it in 2004. In the Congress-led UPA government, she first served as the Minister of State for Tourism. Her most significant contribution came as the Union Minister for Women and Child Development from January 2006 to May 2009. During this tenure, she became a vocal advocate for women's rights and played a pivotal role in shaping the landmark Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005, which provided a comprehensive legal framework against abuse.
However, controversy has been a constant companion. A criminal case was registered against her in 1993 for allegedly assaulting a Delhi traffic policeman; she was acquitted in 2005. In 2014, she was booked in a cheating case under the SC/ST Atrocities Act for allegedly taking money from a Dalit Congress leader for a ticket; she was acquitted in 2025 for lack of evidence.
More recently, in June 2022, she was accused of grabbing a police sub-inspector's collar during a Congress protest in Hyderabad. Though she claimed it was accidental after being pushed, a case was filed. After a period of relative low profile, her political fortunes revived with the Congress's return to power in Telangana. In February 2024, she was elected once again as a Rajya Sabha MP from the state, with her aides noting she is "rejuvenated and filled with the same energy."
The Parliament dog row is thus a snapshot of Renuka Chowdhury's enduring political style: confrontational, media-savvy, and unapologetically herself. From the streets of Hyderabad to the corridors of power in Delhi, her career remains a testament to a brand of politics driven by personal conviction and a refusal to be silenced.
