Informed sources said former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair and nuclear scientist Anil Kakodkar are also in the race for the Upper House nomination. Rao is currently chairman of the scientific advisory council to the Prime Minister.
Of these leading figures, four will be nominated shortly. They will replace former Bollywood starlet Hema Malini, film star Dara Singh, journalist Chandan Mitra and Dr Narain Singh Manaklao, whose term expired in August. The other nominated MPs whose tenure ends are scientist K Kasturirangan and economist Bimal Jalan.
The President of India, under the Constitution, nominates 12 members to the Rajya Sabha for a term of six years. These members are experts in their fields — arts, literature, science or social service.
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