Ramesh Chennithala questions criterion for C. Sadanandan’s Rajya Sabha nomination

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has questioned the criterion for nominating Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader C. Sadanandan to the Rajya Sabha. 

Mr. Chennithala told reporters on Monday that he was “puzzled by which yardstick of excellence” the President had applied in elevating Mr. Sadanandan to the Parliament’s Upper House. The Union government had proposed Mr. Sadanandan’s name under the excellence for education and knowledge category.

Mr. Chennithala said it escaped him what distinction Mr. Sadanandan had achieved in any sphere of life for such national recognition. 

He said personalities such as Sachin Tendulkar and Suresh Gopi had made their mark in the field of sports and acting, respectively. Both were Rajya Sabha members, he said. 

‘No comparable achievements’

However, Mr. Chennithala said Mr. Sadanandan has, prima facie, “no comparable achievements”. He said the President “usually did not elevate run-of-the-mill party workers” to the Upper House. 

Mr. Chennithala found support in short story writer and left fellow traveller Asokan Charuvil. In a Facebook post, Mr. Charuvil lauded Mr. Chennithala for raising the issue in the public domain. 

Mr. Charuvil alleged that Mr. Sadanandan’s “sole merit was being a part of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) strong-arm politics in Kannur district.”

He said the RSS’ “fascist tactic of using physical attacks and coercion to cow down political opponents” had caused disquiet and inter-party violence in Kannur in the yesteryears.

He said the President had nominated Mr. Sadanandan for excellence in the “education and knowledge” sector. However, Mr. Charuvil alleged that Mr. Sadanandan has made no known contribution to social service, literature, art or science. “He has not even won an election”, he said.

He recalled that such Rajya Sabha nominations in the past were reserved for the likes of renowned poets such as G. Sankara Kurup.

Satheesan backs Chennithala

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan backed Mr. Chennithala’s stance.

He said Mr. Sadanandan’s nomination has cast doubt in the public mind about the integrity and ethics of the process.