New Delhi, November 19
Cultural czarina Kapila Vatsayan, scientists M.S. Swaminathan and C.N.R. Rao and social activist Ela Bhatt are among those being considered for nomination to the Rajya Sabha, well-placed sources said today.
Although it is not clear if anybody will be nominated from the film world in place of retiring member Lata Mangeshkar, hectic lobbying is on for the induction of Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan. King Khan is close to several Congress leaders, who had even facilitated his meeting with Ms Sonia Gandhi. It is also learnt that Congress heir-apparent Rahul Gandhi had put in a word for Bollywood’s reigning badshah.
The exercise to shortlist members for this category has got underway as four nominated members — Fali Nariman, Cho Ramaswamy, Nanaji Deshmukh and Lata Mangeshkar — will be completing their term this month.
Of the names currently in circulation, Dr Vatsayan is a strong contender given her standing in the field of art and culture and also her proximity to Ms Gandhi. Marginalised during the NDA regime, when she was unceremoniously removed from the board of the high-profile Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Dr Vatsayan’s nomination to the Rajya Sabha will ensure her complete rehabilitation.
UPA sources said besides Dr Vatsayan, Ms Bhatt of the Ahemdabad-based NGO, SEWA, was also being tipped for a nomination to the Rajya Sabha. Ms Bhatt’s organisation is internationally-acclaimed for the tremendous work it has done for the empowerment of rural women.
It was stated that the Prime Minister was keen on nominating a well-known scientist and the names of C.N.R Rao and M.S. Swaminathan, both doyens in their field, were being mentioned for this slot.
