Hope Tendulkar enjoys his role as Rajya Sabha member: Anand

World chess champion Viswanathan Anand on Sunday said that Sachin Tendulkar serving as Rajya Sabha member would be a big step in his life and wished the cricket legend to enjoy his new role.

World chess champion Viswanathan Anand on Sunday said that Sachin Tendulkar serving as Rajya Sabha member would be a big step in his life and wished the cricket legend to enjoy his new role.

"I hope he (Tendulkar) enjoys his role and he is able to do it very well. It's a big step for him and I think he will enjoy it," Anand said.

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Tendulkar will take oath as a member of Rajya Sabha on Monday.

Anand said that he was not the one to lobby for himself to be conferred the Bharat Ratna, but thanked his well-wishers for thinking that he deserves the country's highest civilian award.

"I simply can't imagine myself campaigning for that award. I am not gonna do that. What happens happens. I don't want to say anything that might influence anything," he said.

"I appreciate the support ... anyone who takes position on my behalf supporting me. A feeling that people are behind you gives you a lot of strength, that I appreciate," he told NDTV.

Anand returned to a rousing reception at his home city Chennai on Saturday night after winning his fifth world title by defeating Boris Gelfand of Israel in a tense tie-breaker in Moscow.