New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) Former union minister Mani Shankar Aiyar and lyricist Javed Akhtar were among five people nominated to the Rajya Sabha Friday by President Pratibha Patil.

The three others nominated to the upper house of parliament are Ram Dayal Munda, Bhalchandra Mungekar and B. Jayashree, according to an official statement.

The nomination has been made against the vacancies caused by the retirement of nominated members, the release added.