In a calculated move against the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] in Kerala, Kannur-based Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader C Sadanandan, known as Sadanandan master, was nominated to the Rajya Sabha on Sunday. Sadanandan, who lost his two legs in an attack carried out by CPI(M) members in 1993, was nominated by President Droupadi Murmu in the category of social work, along with public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, former diplomat Harsh Vardhan Shringla and historian Meenakshi Jain.
The RS nomination came two days after the BJP Kerala unit appointed him as state vice president. Sadanandan's nomination is the latest in a series of moves by the BJP to put the CPI(M) in the dock over the political violence in Kerala, particularly in Kannur. Speaking to the media, Sadanandan said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called him two days ago and told him he would be given an assignment. "The appointment is an important move in Kerala's political scenario. I would work towards the party's mission of Viksit Bharat," he said.
Sadanandan was attacked by a gang of 12 men at around 8.30 pm on January 25, 1994, at Perincherry in Kannur. Both his legs were severed in the attack. As per the FIR, the accused persons also hurled a country-made bomb, sowing terror and delaying his rescue. The RSS retaliated the next day by murdering Students’ Federation of India (SFI) leader KV Sudheesh in front of his parents.
Eight CPI(M) members were sentenced to seven years' rigorous imprisonment for the murder attempt on Sadanandan. The Kerala High Court upheld the trial court's verdict 31 years later in February 2025. Sadanandan has been dependent on prosthetic legs since the attack in 1994.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his social media post congratulating Sadanandan on the Rajya Sabha nomination, said that his life was the epitome of courage and refusal to bow to injustice. "Violence and intimidation couldn’t deter his spirit towards national development. His efforts as a teacher and social worker are also commendable. He is extremely passionate towards youth empowerment…” the PM posted on 'X'.
"In 1994, he lost both his legs to brutal Communist violence. But they could never break his spirit. He rose from that and today he stands tall as a symbol of unwavering resilience and an inspiration for lakhs of BJP karyakartas," wrote BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on 'X'.
Meanwhile, several CPI(M) members questioned the qualification of Sadanandan, as RS nominations were based on contributions towards arts, literature, sciences, and social services.
Sharing a report of CPI(M)-backed Deshabhimani, which accused Sadanandan of attempting to murder the party's branch secretary, PM Janardhanan, in 1993, CPI(M) leader P Jayarajan said that the news would tell which was the qualification that made him eligible for the nomination. Jayarajan also criticised the Malayalam media, accusing it of spreading false reports about political violence involving the CPI(M).
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala too questioned the nomination of Sadanandan. "Normally, those who make contributions in specific fields are nominated as Rajya Sabha members. Suresh Gopi was an actor. Nominating an ordinary BJP member to the Rajya Sabha is unethical," he said.