Nominations for the Rajya Sabha include Veerendra Heggade, PT Usha, Ilaiyaraaja, and Vijayendra Prasad

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 7th July. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka are the four southern states from which all four nominees hail.
On Wednesday, candidates for the Rajya Sabha included composer of music Ilaiyaraaja, athlete PT Usha, screenwriter V Vijayendra Prasad, and philanthropist and social worker Veerendra Heggade.

On the recommendation of the Union Cabinet, the president proposed them. The nominations are thought to be in keeping with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s efforts to increase its presence in the south. Usha is from Kerala, Ilaiyaraaja is from Tamil Nadu, Prasad is from Andhra Pradesh, and Heggade is from Karnataka.
The nominations were announced on the same day that Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi of the BJP and RCP Singh of the Janata Dal (United) announced their resignations from the Cabinet, one day before the end of their terms in the Rajya Sabha. Singh was the Union Minister for Steel, and Naqvi was the Union Minister for Minority Affairs.

On Twitter on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated each of the four nominees.

He wrote the following about the composer: “Ilaiyaraaja’s creative brilliance has captivated people of all ages. His artwork masterfully captures a range of emotions. His life story is equally inspiring because he came from humble beginnings and accomplished so much.”

In his nearly five-decade-long career, Ilaiyaraaja has written over 7,000 songs for over 1,000 films.
Additionally, he has received many honors, including the national award, five times. In 2010 and 2018, the composer received the third-highest civilian award in India, the Padma Bhushan, and the second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan.

Modi referred to Usha as an inspiration for all Indians in another tweet. He continued, “Her sporting achievements are well known, but equally commendable is her work as a mentor to young athletes over the last few years.

The 1980s had seen Usha, a track and field athlete, dominate competitions. She is referred to as the Payyoli Express and has 11 medals from the Asian Games, including four golds from the Seoul Games in 1986.

The remarkable PT Usha Ji is an inspiration for every Indian. Her accomplishments in sports are widely known but equally commendable is her work to mentor budding athletes over the last several years. Congratulations to her on being nominated to the Rajya Sabha. @PTUshaOfficial pic.twitter.com/uHkXu52Bgc

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 6, 2022

The prime minister wrote the following about Prasad: “For many years, V Vijayendra Prasad Garu has been involved in the arts. His creations have left their mark on the world while showcasing India’s illustrious culture.”

One of the top screenwriters in Telugu cinema is Prasad, the father of the director SS Rajamouli. He has also contributed to films in Hindi, Kannada, and Tamil. His films include Mersal, RRR, Baahubali: The Beginning and the End, and Bajrangi Bhaijaan.

Modi concluded by mentioning Heggade and his volunteer work. He said, “I’ve had the chance to pray at the Dharmasthala Temple and also see the fantastic work he’s doing in health, education, and culture. He’ll undoubtedly make Parliamentary proceedings more interesting.

Shri Veerendra Heggade Ji is at the forefront of outstanding community service. I have had the opportunity to pray at the Dharmasthala Temple and also witness the great work he is doing in health, education and culture. He will certainly enrich Parliamentary proceedings. pic.twitter.com/tMTk0BD7Vf

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 6, 2022