New Delhi:
Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Chief Mayawati, Union ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh and Rajeev Shukla, Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi and actor Jaya Bachchan were among the 50 new members who took oath in the Rajya Sabha today.
Arun Jaitley, who was re-elected to the Upper House from Gujarat for his third successive term, was the first to be called to take oath.
Ms Mayawati, who got elected to the Upper House after her party suffered defeat in the recent Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, solemnly affirmed in Hindi that she would bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution.
Even before the House met for the day, she was greeted by leaders cutting across political lines. After taking oath, she walked up to the Prime Minister, who stood up to acknowledge her greetings.
Vialsrao Deshmukh, who along with fellow partyman Rajeev Shukla was elected from Maharasthra, took oath in Marathi. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Shukla took oath in Hindi.
Among others, Telugu superstar-turned-politician Chiranjeevi took oath today. Also, actor Jaya Bachchan, who returned to the Samajwadi Party fold after a brief split following the expulsion of Amar Singh from the party, also took oath in Rajya Sabha today.