Sachin Tendulkar to bat for Congress in Rajya Sabha?

Sachin Tendulkar will now start batting for the Congress in the Rajya Sabha with the cricketing great reportedly accepting Sonia Gandhi's offer and President Pratibha Patil approving the recommendation for his Rajya Sabha nomination.

Tendulkar along with his wife Anjali met Congress President Sonia Gandhi at her 10 Janpath residence in New Delhi today. Sonia Gandhi, however, described the meeting as a courtesy call and that she wanted to congratulate him for his achievement of scoring 100 international centuries.

Senior BCCI functionary and IPL chairman Rajiv Shukla was also present at Sonia Gandhi's residence. Tendulkar, who spent close to half an hour with Sonia, did not make any statement.

Many, however, believe that he is unlikely to accept the offer as he wants to continue his cricketing career.

The President, meanwhile, approved the recommendation of Rajya Sabha nominations of Bollywood actress Rekha and industrialist Anu Agha as well.

Sachin Tendulkar's Rajya Sabha nomination, proposed by the Congress, and his acceptance would make him the first active sportsperson and cricketer to have been nominated to the Rajya Sabha.