NEW DELHI: In a bid to strengthen BJP's presence in Kerala, Senior Sangh leader and BJP state vice-president C Sadanandan was nominated to the Rajya Sabha on Sunday. President Droupadi Murmu nominated the leader to the upper house. The four other nominated members are Ujjwal Nikam, a lawyer from Maharashtra, former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and historian Dr. Meenakshi Jain. The crucial move was made as the Parliament session is scheduled to begin next week.

C Sadanandan master, a former high school teacher and a revered name in the academic sphere in Kerala, is a survivor of political violence. In 1994, left-wing workers attacked him near his residence during the dark hour of the night. In the incident, Sadanandan master had to amputate both his legs.

It is said that PM Modi considers C Sadanandan Master in high regard and often speaks highly of the Kannur native in public functions. Sadanandan master responded that he had a clue from PM Modi about getting nominated to the Rajya Sabha.

Sadanandan master is the Kerala State Vice President of the National Teachers Union and the editor of the organisation's mouthpiece, National Teachers' News. He is also active in the activities of the Bharatiya Vichara Kendra, the intellectual wing of the RSS. He is married to a teacher, Vanitha Rani.