India's prime minister has put forward batting superstar Sachin Tendulkar for membership of the upper house of parliament, reports said.

Manmohan Singh has written a letter to the president recommending the cricketer be nominated to the Rajya Sabha, the NDTV news channel quoted sources as saying.

The vast majority of the 250 seats in the upper house of India's parliament are filled by members elected by the legislatures in their home states.

But 12 seats lie in the favour of the president.

AGENCIES