NEW DELHI: Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar on Monday became the first active sportsperson to become a Member of Parliament when he took oath as a Rajya Sabhamember.
Sachin took the oath in the chamber of Rajya Sabha chairman and vice-President Hamid Ansari.
On his way to the Parliament, Sachin was accompanied by his wife Anjali Tendulkar and IPL chairman and MP Rajiv Shukla.
World chess champion Viswanathan Anand on Sunday said that Sachin serving as Rajya Sabha member would be a big step in his life and wished the cricket legend to enjoy his new role.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that Sachin will make a contribution as a Rajya Sabha member also as he has excelled in cricket and in whatever he has done so far.
Though he was nominated to the Upper House of the Parliament in April earlier this year, Sachin could not take oath due to his cricket commitments.
Sachin has already said that he will not quit cricket to join politics and will always remain a sportsman.
Sachin's nomination to the Rajya Sabha had taken political circles by surprise, even though it was in the works for a while. Cricket lovers too were bemused with many wondering how an active cricketer who is on the road for around 250 days a year will be able to do justice to his parliamentary duties - and if he can't, would this Rajya Sabha entry really enhance Sachin's stature?
Sachin, it is said, had sought time to think over the offer and had conveyed his acceptance to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
Sachin's nomination to the Rajya Sabha came after he completed a historic 100 international centuries in March earlier this year.
Official sources said the home ministry sent the name of Sachin under the "social service" category as sports is not specifically listed in fields eligible for nominations.
Sportspersons in Parliament
RAJYA SABHA
Elected: Dilip Tirkey (hockey) 2012
Nominated: Sachin Tendulkar (cricket) 2012
LOK SABHA
Karni Singh (shooter) 1952-77
Kirti Azad (cricket) 1999, 2009
Navjot Singh Sidhu (cricket) 2004, 2009
Aslam Sher Khan (cricket) 1984, 1991
Jyotirmoy Sikdar (athletics) 2004
Chetan Chauhan (cricket) 1991, 1998
Naveen Jindal (shooter, member of Indian squad in Busan Asiad) 2004, 2009
Mohammad Azharuddin (cricket) 2009.
Sachin took the oath in the chamber of Rajya Sabha chairman and vice-President Hamid Ansari.
On his way to the Parliament, Sachin was accompanied by his wife Anjali Tendulkar and IPL chairman and MP Rajiv Shukla.
World chess champion Viswanathan Anand on Sunday said that Sachin serving as Rajya Sabha member would be a big step in his life and wished the cricket legend to enjoy his new role.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that Sachin will make a contribution as a Rajya Sabha member also as he has excelled in cricket and in whatever he has done so far.
Though he was nominated to the Upper House of the Parliament in April earlier this year, Sachin could not take oath due to his cricket commitments.
Sachin has already said that he will not quit cricket to join politics and will always remain a sportsman.
Sachin's nomination to the Rajya Sabha had taken political circles by surprise, even though it was in the works for a while. Cricket lovers too were bemused with many wondering how an active cricketer who is on the road for around 250 days a year will be able to do justice to his parliamentary duties - and if he can't, would this Rajya Sabha entry really enhance Sachin's stature?
Sachin, it is said, had sought time to think over the offer and had conveyed his acceptance to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
Sachin's nomination to the Rajya Sabha came after he completed a historic 100 international centuries in March earlier this year.
Official sources said the home ministry sent the name of Sachin under the "social service" category as sports is not specifically listed in fields eligible for nominations.
Sportspersons in Parliament
RAJYA SABHA
Elected: Dilip Tirkey (hockey) 2012
Nominated: Sachin Tendulkar (cricket) 2012
LOK SABHA
Karni Singh (shooter) 1952-77
Kirti Azad (cricket) 1999, 2009
Navjot Singh Sidhu (cricket) 2004, 2009
Aslam Sher Khan (cricket) 1984, 1991
Jyotirmoy Sikdar (athletics) 2004
Chetan Chauhan (cricket) 1991, 1998
Naveen Jindal (shooter, member of Indian squad in Busan Asiad) 2004, 2009
Mohammad Azharuddin (cricket) 2009.