With the presidential nomination of K Parasaran, the Rajya Sabha has now four Iyengar Vaishanvites, Jairam Ramesh, V Maitreyan and TK Rangarajan the CPM MP.

The heads of Vaishanavites’ mutts lauded the gesture of UPA2 on the nomination of K Parasaran and thanked prime minister Manmohan Singh.

For the first time the UPA2 has recognised the services rendered by K Parasaran in the legal. The chiefs of the mutts said that by nominating K Parasaran. the UPA2 recongnised a Sanskrit scholar. He is likely to take oath in Sanskrit.

All the four Iyengars incidentally are from Vadagalai Vaishnavites. Jairam Ramesh has studied Bhagawad Gita and can recite many stanzas.

In a lighter vein, GK Vasan, shipping minister, commented that minority has become majority in the Rajya Sabha.  Educated voters, especially teachers and lawyers from Tamil Nadu would thank UPA2 for recognising the services of K Parasaran.

Insiders say that on Monday the Prime Minister spoke to Prasaran for his consent for nomination. This was a rare gesture Manmohan Singh showed to his longtime "guide and friend."