The nomination of 'outsiders' and film stars as candidates for Rajya Sabha membership has ruffled the feathers of a number of Congress Party members in the state. According to reports, the new names that are being considered for membership to the Council of States include the incumbent Punjab governor and former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, former Congress chief of Madhya Pradesh Suresh Pachouri, and former Congress MLC Sanjay Dutt. A section of Congress Party members have, however, protested these nominations.


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Shivraj Patil, who has been in political hibernation since his appointment as governor to the state of Punjab, appears to be looking for a fresh foothold in the political arena through the Rajya Sabha membership. Patil had quit as the state's home minister in the face of severe criticism following the 26/11 terror attacks. Speaking of his possible candidature, a Congress leader said, "This man was known for his inefficiency as Home Minister.

Now attempts are being made to rehabilitate him in the political sphere. As always, they are trying to promote a non-Maharashtrian as a candidate, in spite of the fact that there are worthy aspirants within the state's Congress unit." The other name that has been doing the rounds for the prestigious membership is that of Pachouri. Pachouri had quit as minister handling the Sensitive Personnel Ministry in 2008, in order to lead the Madhya Pradesh Congress in the assembly elections. When the party lost the elections, however, Kanti Lal Bhuria replaced Pachouri as head of the state Congress unit. For both Patil and Pachouri, the Rajya Sabha membership is critical, in order for them to make any kind of political comeback.

"The Congress party always displays a predisposition towards outsiders and film stars, when it comes to nominating candidates for the Rajya Sabha. Many of them owe no allegiance to the party. In fact, a film star who was nominated by the Congress for Rajya Sabha membership later went on to claim that he had nothing to do with the party whatsoever. Moreover, these outsiders have little knowledge about the affairs of Maharashtra, as they hail from other states," said another Congress leader.