NEW DELHI: Prominent lawyer Ujjwal Nikam was among four distinguished individuals nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu on Sunday, filling vacancies that had lingered for nearly a year. Nikam had made an unsuccessful bid for the Lok Sabha from Mumbai North Central in the 2024 elections as a BJP candidate, and his defeat had left many nationalists disheartened. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to X to announce the nominations, which also included C. Sadanandan Master, a prominent RSS worker from Kerala, retired diplomat Harsh Vardhan Shringla and eminent historian Meenakshi Jain. Nikam, known for his relentless pursuit of justice in high-profile cases like the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts and the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, had faced a bitter defeat last year. Despite his reputation as the man who secured the hanging of terrorists Ajmal Kasab and Yakub Memon, vote polarisation in his constituency had tipped the scales against him. In his X post, Prime Minister Modi praised Nikam’s exemplary legal career, emphasising his role in strengthening justice and dignity for common citizens. “Shri Ujjwal Nikam’s devotion to the legal field and to our Constitution is exemplary. He has not only been a successful lawyer but also been at the forefront of seeking justice in important cases,” Modi wrote. Alongside Nikam, the nominations included C. Sadanandan Master, a senior RSS leader from Kerala, who lost both legs to a CPIM terrorist attack in 1994 and now walks with prosthetic limbs. The Prime Minister highlighted Master’s nomination, calling it a “tribute to the victims of Red Terrorism.” The third nominee, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, a seasoned diplomat, was also reported to be in consideration for the Lok Sabha polls by the BJP last year. Modi post lauded Shringla’s contributions to India’s global standing, particularly during his tenure as Foreign Secretary. Meenakshi Jain, an eminent historian, was recognised for her work in preserving India’s cultural heritage, as noted in PM Modi’s post. The four vacancies have been pending since the retirement of Rakesh Sinha, Ram Shakal Rajbhar, Sonal Mansingh, and Mahesh Jethmalani in July last year.