Kannur (Kerala) | Senior BJP leader C Sadanandan Master, who has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha, on Sunday said the party high command's decision and his new responsibility are aimed at realising its core objective of "Viksit Keralam" (Developed Kerala).
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had indicated the new position two days earlier during an interaction, and he learned of the nomination this morning.
A senior leader of the saffron party from the politically volatile Kannur district, Sadanandan Master is a survivor of political violence. His two legs were severed during an alleged attack by CPI(M) workers in 1994.
A school teacher by profession, Master has been actively engaged in various party programmes and roles for several years.
"The decision of the national leadership, especially that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is one that strengthens the party's activities and initiatives in Kerala," he told the media.
He said the BJP in Kerala is at a critical juncture, with two significant elections—the local body and the assembly—around the corner.
The leader said the party leadership recently conveyed a message in this regard, emphasising 'Viksit Keralam' as its core objective.
"The party is organising various programmes and taking decisions to realise that objective. The nomination to the Rajya Sabha can also be seen as part of that," he said.
He further stated that the Prime Minister is paying much attention to implementing several programmes beyond politics to achieve the goal of "Viksit Keralam."
Asked about his priorities as a new Rajya Sabha MP, Master said that service remains the top priority for someone like him, and that it would continue.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed Master’s contributions and described him as an "epitome of courage."
"Sadanandan Master’s life is the epitome of courage and refusal to bow to injustice. Violence and intimidation couldn't deter his spirit towards national development," the PM said on his 'X' handle.
"His efforts as a teacher and social worker are also commendable. He is extremely passionate about youth empowerment. Congratulations to him for being nominated to the Rajya Sabha by Rashtrapati Ji. Best wishes for his role as MP," Modi added.
Besides Sadanandan Master, former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Special Public Prosecutor in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case Ujjwal Nikam, and historian Meenakshi Jain have been nominated to the Rajya Sabha.
In a notification issued late Saturday night, the Union Home Ministry said the President has nominated the four to the Rajya Sabha.
However, the Congress party on Sunday strongly objected to the Rashtrapati Bhavan's nomination of Sadanandan to the Rajya Sabha.
This nomination, which does not meet the criteria, is a moral degradation of Indian democracy, AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal said in Palakkad.
"Rashtrapati Bhavan usually nominates eminent personalities to the Rajya Sabha. There has been a tradition of nominating people like M S Swaminathan," he said.
He added that Sadanandan might have made sacrifices for the BJP, and if so, he should have been sent to the Rajya Sabha as their party nominee.
"What message was sent by nominating him through the Rashtrapati Bhavan?" the AICC general secretary asked.
Thiruvananthapuram | Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Sunday called the CPI(M)'s ideology "inhuman", citing the case of the BJP's newly nominated Rajya Sabha MP C Sadanandan Master, who lost both legs in a brutal attack allegedly carried out by Marxist workers decades ago.
Congratulating Master in a social media post, Arlekar said the leader's life stands as a powerful testament to resilience, hope, and unwavering determination.
"He is a living symbol of nationalist resistance against the violence of an inhuman ideology. His decades of service in public life & unwavering commitment to social welfare will enrich the Upper House," he said in a post on 'X'.
Recalling the contributions and roles played by the senior leader in his years-long political life, Arlekar said Master had served on the editorial team of the 'Janmabhoomi' daily and was formerly a schoolteacher in Thrissur.
In a brutal attack near his residence in Kannur, he sustained grievous injuries that led to the amputation of both legs, the Governor noted.
"From surviving that traumatic incident to being nominated to the Rajya Sabha, Sadanandan Master's life stands as a powerful testament to resilience, hope, and unwavering determination," he added.
A senior leader of the saffron party from the politically volatile Kannur district, Master is a survivor of political violence. His two legs were severed during an alleged attack by CPI(M) workers in 1994.
Besides Master, former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Special Public Prosecutor in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case Ujjwal Nikam and historian Meenakshi Jain have been nominated to the Rajya Sabha.
In a notification issued late Saturday night, the Union Home Ministry said the President has nominated the four to the Rajya Sabha.
