NOMINATED RAJYA SABHA CELEBS LOSE RELEVANCE

NOMINATION alone does not define denomination. The purpose of nominating eminent personalities to the Rajya Sabha was initially meant to raise its intellectual voltage.

- PRABHU CHAWLA

Now it is to send an ideological message, emblematic of glamour, caste or cadre. Over the past 70 years, the role and quality of nominated MPs have undergone a massive change. They are either absentees or disinterested debateducking backbenchers.

Last week, the president nominated Satnam Singh, founder of the privately-owned Chandigarh University, to the Rajya Sabha in recognition of his contributions to Indian education. Hailing from a modest background, he became a super-successful edupreneur. His selection reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s model of picking unknown persons with poor or ordinary social and economic backgrounds to give them respectability and national recognition. During the Congress era, nominated MPs were ideological collaborators. The saffron beneficiaries now ride many horses—political neutrality, invisibility—and enjoy an MP’s perks.

All that glitters may not be gold, but the Golden Jubilee Club has always been a matinee attraction of the RS since 1952—of the 145-odd nominated members since inception, who include MPs nominated more than once, the largest number (24) has been from the entertainment world. The common factor is their connectivity with government powers, particularly the prime minister. Both Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi nominated 65 persons. Manmohan Singh honoured 19.

Though all 14 prime ministers have selected a substantial number of heavy hitters, merit wasn’t their only criterion. The Gandhi parivar chose the most (65) due their being in power for nearly three decades; Rajiv Gandhi designated 12 MPs in five years.