BJP criticises Aiyar's nomination to Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, March 19: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday criticised the nomination of former union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar to the Rajya Sabha, saying he was an active Congressman.

BJP chief spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said the nomination of Aiyar to the upper house of parliament does not go "with the spirit of Rajya Sabha" for the category of nominated members.

"It is devaluation of that (spirit)," Prasad told IANS.

He said Aiyar had lost the last Lok Sabha elections and was "an active Congressman".

Aiyar is convenor of the coordination committee for the implementation of programmes for the 125th anniversary of the Congress and has been allotted an office at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) premises on 24, Akbar Road.

He is also convenor of AICC's Rajiv Gandhi Panchayati Raj Sangathan.

Aiyar was Friday nominated to the Rajya Sabha along with four other people taking the total number of nominated members to 11.

The present strength of the Rajya Sabha is 245, of which 233 are representatives of the states and union territories and 12 are nominated by the President.

The members nominated by the president are those having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of matters as literature, science, art and social science.