Iconic composer Ilaiyaraaja, celebrated athlete P T Usha, philanthropist Veerendra Heggade and screenwriter-director V Vijayendra Prasad were Wednesday nominated as Rajya Sabha members.
The four nominated representatives represent four South Indian states. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted congratulatory messages following the nominations.
They were nominated by the president on the advice of the Union Cabinet. The nominations are seen to be in line with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s push to expand its footprint in the southern region. Ilaiyaraaja is from Tamil Nadu, Usha from Kerala, Prasad from Andhra Pradesh and Heggade from Karnataka.
Lauding Padma Vibhushan awardee Ilaiyaraaja, Modi said: “The creative genius of @ilaiyaraaja Ji has enthralled people across generations. His works beautifully reflect many emotions. What is equally inspiring is his life journey- he rose from a humble background and achieved so much. Glad that he has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha.”
The Prime Minister praised Padma Shri and Arjuna Award recipient PT Usha saying she is an inspiration for every Indian. In another tweet, PM Modi congratulated Dharmadhikari of the Dharmasthala Temple, Veerendra Heggade, on being nominated as a Rajya Sabha member saying he will “enrich Parliamentary proceedings.”
Modi also congratulated screenwriter V Vijayendra Prasad. “…His works showcase India’s glorious culture and have made a mark globally. Congratulations to him for being nominated to the Rajya Sabha,” he tweeted.
Prasad, the father of filmmaker SS Rajamouli, is one of leading screenwriters in Telugu cinema. He has also written for Tamil, Kannada and Hindi films. His works include Bajrangi Bhaijaan, RRR, both parts of Baahubali and Mersal.
