Actor-turned-politician Roopa Ganguly was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday. She will take the seat left vacant by cricket-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, PTI reported. Ganguly, who is the Bharatiya Janata Party's West Bengal Mahila Morcha president, thanked the party for her nomination.

She said, "I want to work for the development of my country and will perform all my responsibilities with utmost sincerity." Ganguly had contested the West Bengal Assembly elections this year with a BJP ticket, but she had failed to win a seat.

Ganguly is most famous for playing the role of Draupadi in the television series Mahabharat. She also won the 2012 National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer.