Seven MPs, two former RS members win Sansad Ratna awards

CHENNAI: Seven MPs and two former Rajya Sabha members have won Sansad Ratna awards (2017) in various categories for their outstanding performance in Parliament. The awards, instituted by Chennai-based NGO Prime Point Foundation will be presented by Kerala Governor P Sathasivam at an event at IIT Madras on Saturday. A jury headed by MP Anandrao Adsul, ministers of state Hansraj G Ahir and Arjun Ram Meghwal selected the winners, K Srinivasan, chairman of Prime Point Foundation told reporters at a press briefing on Friday.Lok Sabha members Bhartruhari Mahtab (BJD), NK Premachandran (RSP), Shrirang Appa Barne (Shiv Sena), Rajeev Shankarrao Satav (INC), Dhananjay Mahadik (NCP) and Heena Vijaykumar Gavit (BJP), Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena) and former RS members KN Balagopal (CPM) and TN Seema (CPM) have won Sansad Ratna awards under various categories.The foundation has also released an analysis of the performance of states at the end of the Budget Session of the 16th Lok Sabha. Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Rajasthan are the top five, on the basis of debates initiated, private members bills and questions. The top performers among political parties are Shiv Sena, NCP, CPM, AIADMK, INC, TDP, BJP, BJD, TRS and All India Trinamool Congress.