The reactions of Mumbaikars varied to batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar's nomination to the Rajya Sabha, with some welcoming the move and others critical of his new role, which will deprive him from playing.
Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray reserved his comments. “Whether or not the Congress gives Tendulkar a Rajya Sabha seat or not, it is between them. I do not want to say anything about this,” he said.
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However, Congress MP from north Mumbai Sanjay Nirupam welcomed the move. “Sachin deserves every bit and more. He also deserves a Bharat Ratna. I whole heartedly welcome this decision,” he said. BJP legislator Madhav Bhandari, however, said: “As a fan of Tendulkar, I will welcome this move, but as an observer of politics, it will be like keeping him away from his biggest passion — cricket. I also see this as a trick to keep Tendulkar away from a Bharat Ratna.”
Commoners, on the other hand, were baffled even at the possibility of Tendulkar as a Rajya Sabha member. “I am perplexed. Who recommended him? What were they thinking? And tell me what will he do on that position? Sachin is a good cricketer and let them stay in the field of cricket and achieve greater heights,” said Deep Vora, a software professional.u00a0Agreed Mumbaikar Raghavendra B R, a musician. “Sachin is an achiever in his own right. But I don’t quite agree with him being nominated for Rajya Sabha, especially, with his busy schedule,” he said.