It’s More than Symbolic

A Rajya Sabha nomination is not a mere gesture

The recent nomination of cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to the Rajya Sabha created a furore. A majority of people were doubtful of what role Tendulkar would play in the House and also of his suitability for the role. Those who are not against the move wonder what the fuss is about, since a nomination to the Rajya Sabha is merely a goodwill gesture and does not have much political significance.

This is a fallacy. A Rajya Sabha nomination can prove to be significant. It depends on the individual. It is not without reason that each year, before seats turn vacant in the Rajya Sabha, many lobby for a position. Also, members are entitled to funds that can be utilised in any manner they want. As nominated members don’t belong to any constituency, they can use this money for development in any part of the country. This is one of the major advantages a nominated member enjoys. And an even bigger advantage is this: not having a constituency minimises the pressure of accountability in terms of performance and utilisation of funds.

It must be said, however, that there is no harm in nominating Tendulkar. This slot is meant for performers in fields other than politics. Article 80 of India’s Constitution allows the President of India to nominate 12 members to the 250-member strong Rajya Sabha. By adopting the principle of nomination, the Constitution ensures that the nation can access the services of those people who have achieved excellence in their field of activity. Since the Rajya Sabha was constituted in 1952, there have been 105 nominated members. These have included poets, artists, social workers and writers. Why should the nomination of a distinguished sportsman raise anyone’s eybrows?

The course that members of the House want to chart out depends on them. They can participate in the framing of policy matters or they can refuse to get involved, like Lata Mangeshkar. She would usually excuse herself from Rajya Sabha sessions. And when her long absences were noted by the media, she sulked away the remainder of her tenure. Had Mangeshkar wanted, she could have been an important voice in the Rajya Sabha.

There is much that Tendulkar can do. For instance, he can work for not just cricket but all sports.

About The Author

Haima Deshpande