Jethmalani, three others sworn in as RS member

New Delhi, Apr 12 (UNI) Four Rajya Sabha members, including eminent lawyer and former Union Minister Ram Jethmalani who has been nominated, today took oath of office at the Parliament House here.

They were sworn in by Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

Mr Jethmalani, who had earlier been elected thrice to the Upper House in 1988, 1994 and 2000, fills the vacancy created by the death of Vidya Niwas Misra, whose term was to expire in August 2009.

Among the other three who took oath were Samajwadi party's Banwari Lal Kanchal and Veerpal Singh Yadav and elected from Uttar Pradesh.

Besides them, Mr Rudranarayan Pany, reelected from Orissa on a BJP ticket was also sworn in.

While Mr Jethmalani took oath in English and Mr Pany in Oriya, Mr Yadav and Mr Kanchal took the oath in Hindi.

Others who made it to the Rajya Sabha in the biennial elections but are yet to take oath include Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh.

With the swearing in of the four members, the total number of those who have taken oath out of the 58 elected in the March 28, 2006 biennial polls has reached 48.

The remaining 10 members would be taking oath at a later date, or when the Parliament meets after recess on May 10.

Prominenet among those who attended the oath taking ceremony were Minister of state for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachouri, Union Ministers P C Gupta, Congress chief Whip in Rajya Sabha V Narayan Swami and CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury.

UNI NAZ MSJ RS1936