President Murmu nominates 4 members to Rajya Sabha, names include Ujjwal Nikam, Shringla and…
President Droupadi Murmu Saturday nominated four persons to the Rajya Sabha. The names included Ujjwal Nikam, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, and Meenakshi Jain.
By Joy Pillai Edited by Joy Pillai
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President Murmu nominates 4 members to Rajya Sabha, names include Ujjwal Nikam, Shringla and...
New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday nominated four persons to the upper house of Parliament – Rajya Sabha. She has nominated historian Dr Meenakshi Jain, lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, and Kerala-based teacher, social worker C. Sadanandan Master, and seasoned diplomat Harsh Vardhan Shringla. According to an official Gazette notification, the new nominations have been made to replace members who have retired.
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The President of India used her powers to nominate individuals as Rajya Sabha members under Article 80(1)(a) of the Constitution. This section of the Indian constitution authorises the President to nominate members possessing special knowledge or immense practical knowledge in literature, science, art and social service.
Among the nominated members, Ujjwal Nikam is the most prominent face. The public prosecutor is known for his role as Special Public Prosecutor in the Mumbai terror attacks (26/11) trial. In last year's Lok Sabha election, he was given a ticket by the BJP from the Mumbai North Central Lok Sabha constituency. However, he was defeated by Congress's Varsha Gaikwad.
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Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X and congratulated Nikam for his new responsibility.
'Shri Ujjwal Nikam's devotion to the legal field and to our Constitution is exemplary. He has not only been a successful lawyer but also been at the forefront of seeking justice in important cases. During his entire legal career, he has always worked to strengthen Constitutional values and ensure common citizens are always treated with dignity. It's gladdening that the President of India has nominated him to the Rajya Sabha. My best wishes for his Parliamentary innings,' PM Modi wrote on X.
Former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla served several crucial posts, including Ambassador to Bangladesh, US, and Thailand. He also worked for the government as the chief coordinator for India's G20 presidency in 2023.
'Shri Harsh Vardhan Shringla Ji has excelled as a diplomat, intellectual and strategic thinker. Over the years, he's made key contributions to India's foreign policy and also contributed to our G20 Presidency. Glad that he's been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President of India. His unique perspectives will greatly enrich parliamentary proceedings,' PM Modi said.
C Sadanandan Master, a long-time BJP member, is a respected educator and social activist from Kerala. He ran for the Kerala Assembly in 2021 and is known for surviving a violent 1994 attack by suspected CPI(M) members, resulting in the loss of both his legs.
'Shri C. Sadanandan Master's life is the epitome of courage and refusal to bow to injustice. Violence and intimidation couldn't deter his spirit towards national development.,' PM Modi posted on X.
President also nominated Dr Meenakshi Jain. She is a prominent historian and an ex-Associate Professor of History at Gargi College, Delhi University. She has received significant academic recognition for her work.
'Her work in the fields of education, literature, history and political science have enriched academic discourse significantly. Best wishes for her Parliamentary tenure,' the Prime Minister said.
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