Subramanian Swamy, Mary Kom, Narendra Jadhav among BJP's nominees to Rajya Sabha: Reports

The Bhartiya Janata Party has reportedly finalised the list of nominees for Rajya Sabha.

According to media reports, the party's nominations for the six seats includes senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, BJP ideologue Swapan Dasgupta, Malayalam actor and BJP star campaigner in Kerala Suresh Gopi, MP and former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu, economist and former Pune University Vice Chancellor Narendra Jadhav and 5-time word champion boxer MC Mary Kom.

However, the party is deliberating over two names for the seventh seat. Quoting sources, Hindustan Times reported, "For the seventh name, the government is split between actor Anupam Kher and journalist Rajat Sharma."

Malayalam actor Suresh Gopi has already been confirmed for the nomination. Speaking to the media in Kerala, the actor had stated that just because his name has been included in the list, it does not mean it is a political move.  "The first priority would be to save the rivers in Kerala and that he would start his work from Thiruvananthapuram," he said.

On government’s advice, the nominated members are recommended by the President from fields like literature, science, sports, art and social service.

The term of 12 outgoing members ended on April 9. The BJP has 48 members in the upper house while the Congress has 66. A total of 74 Rajya Sabha members will be retiring in 2016.