President Droupadi Murmu has nominated four distinguished individuals to the Rajya Sabha under Article 80(1)(a) of the Constitution. The nominees include renowned public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, noted historian and academic Dr. Meenakshi Jain, former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, and Kerala-based social worker C. Sadanandan Master. These nominations fill vacancies left by the retirement of previous nominated members.
Ujjwal Nikam is a prominent legal figure known for prosecuting high-profile cases such as the 26/11 Mumbai attacks involving Ajmal Kasab and the 1993 Bombay blasts. He also contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Mumbai North Central on a BJP ticket.
Dr. Meenakshi Jain, a respected historian, formerly served as an Associate Professor at Gargi College, University of Delhi. She is widely recognized for her scholarly work on Indian history and civilization.
Harsh Vardhan Shringla is a seasoned diplomat and India’s former Foreign Secretary. He previously served as Ambassador to the United States, Bangladesh, and Thailand and was India’s Chief Coordinator for the G20 Presidency in 2023.
C. Sadanandan Master is a BJP member and former schoolteacher from Kerala. He survived a brutal political attack in 1994 when CPI(M) workers allegedly severed both his legs. He was also fielded by the BJP in the 2021 state elections.
These nominations are part of the President’s constitutional prerogative to nominate up to 12 members to the Rajya Sabha from the fields of literature, science, art, and social service.
