It is a reflection of the current state of Indian politics that even as boring an exercise as the presidential election has all the markings of a heart-stopping show, which, to use the sage words of Ravi Shastri in an IPL season, “can go all the way down to the wire”.
The elections are still two months away, but the battlelines are getting drawn between the UPA and NDA, with more than a few aspiring (and perspiring) partypoopers lining up alongside. Result: Hopes of a “consensus” in the “national interest” are quickly getting “elusive”.
The Congress-led UPA, whose electoral victories are few and far between, obviously wants its candidate (vice-president Hamid Ansari, according to the prevailing wisdom) to get in, especially with general elections due in 2014. Ansari is suave, erudite, secular, has friends on both sides of the political fence, and oozes plenty of presidential air.
The problem is his conduct as chairman of the Rajya Sabha in the Lok Pal debate—when he called of the session without giving time for a vote—which seems to have rubbed the BJP on the wrong side.
Worse, as a “left wing intellectual” Ansari is anathema to the current diva of Indian politics, Mamata Banerjee, who is part of the UPA. She, it appears, is talking with Mulayam Singh Yadav of the Samajawadi Party and exploring the possibility of propping up former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam once again. Mulayam it was who had first suggested Kalam’s name in 2002.
Kalam’s name did the rounds at the end of his first term in 2007, but when the parties couldn’t reach a consensus, he dropped out. “Kalam Iyer” has given no indication that he is interested in a fresh tenure but by floating his name at this juncture, regional parties like Trinamool are giving every indication of a faceoff between a Tamil Muslim and a UP Muslim.
Questions: Will Kalam agree to enter the presidential race again? Should he? Does he stand a chance when the numbers are loaded against the Opposition? Could he end up becoming a pawn in the hands of small parties? Or, should the UPA consider him as the “consensus” candidate this time round given his role in defusing the Koodankulam anti-nuclear protests?
APJ Kalam is anyday a better President that either Pratibha Patil or Hamid Ansari…ansari comes across as a rabid UP muslim compared the docile demeanour of APJ Kalam.
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Dr.Kalam has been the best President India has got after luminaries like Dr.Prasad and Dr.Radhakrishnan. He will be the best President this country can ever get. This goongi gudiya who occupies Rashtrapathi Bhavan is a shameless land grabber and a puppet of 10 Janpath. We don’t need another President like that, we need a President whom we can be proud of – and that’s Kalam.
If UPA has sense it should accept him without debate and propose him as ‘their’ candidate and use the opportunity to get their man as VP. But knowing this bunch of jokers, they will mess up things and end up losing both Pres and VP!!
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Kalam is now 80 year old he must refuse the post.He must remember those who suggesting his name they are suggesting for their selfish purpose..Lat time also he given his consent but cheated by supporters.Beware Kaam and donot be give consent for temporarity popularity.You had got all honour now enough is enough
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the bestest of the bestest
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We dont need namby pamby Presidents like Kalaam , Ansari etc …We need a TN sheshan .
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Its time that the UPA does not indulge in petty politics for the position of a President. I am sure Dr.kalam will agree if there is unanimous election. Otherwise he should stay away. He is highly dignified individual and not stoop to street side politics .
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Elect great ManMohan Singh as President of India. he got experience of being rubber stamp till now. so he achieved the required criteria to become the president.!! Please enlightened me is there any difference between Prime minister and President at this point of time!!!
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Not again! Narayana Murthy will be the best bet. He will take care of our deficit budget!
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Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam should not accept the offer. He had a good innings as President of India with Shri Atal Behari Vajapayee as his PM.
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Gopal Krishna Gandhi – anybody ?
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APJ may be among the most honest people in our midst, but he is hardly presidential timber.
Can’t we keep religion out of this business? Why must there be a periodical Muslim as president? How about Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, and followers of a whole host of other religions?
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i accept with brahmanyan….if APJ does anything against ruling govt, they will fill a corruption charge against him. who knows. APJ is a great man…
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errr…how abt Jayaprada, easy on the eyes
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Sachin Tendulkar ?, Lata Mangeshkar?, no Manu Singhvi?
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Vilasrao Deshmukh for Prez. Whenever there is a scam involving him, the Congress has given him a promotion. He deserves one for the Subhash Ghai/Whispering woods scam now.
btw, these are not my original thoughts. Pleaes read P.Sainath as he tears into Vilasrao Deshmukh:
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/columns/sainath/article2900955.ece
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I agree with @EmpyMind. MMS has already proved that he is well & truly capable of handling the Office of President of India.
~*~
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Why not our own H.D.Deve Gowda. Ooops…..!!!
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PTL,,
I propose Commande Jacob (a jew) who liberated Bangla Desh for Presidents Post…just to see the reaction of the secular brigade
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Nanna votu Pratibha Patil-ge. Our country deserves another term for this illustrious personality. Allvaa?
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Let us put Abhisex Manu Singhvi there.. poor bloke is tired of shouting his innocence. A five year lull in the Rashtrapathi Bhavan will soothe his strayed nerves. Plus he can always continue his activities in the much bigger enviorns of this palace. A SC lawyer’s chamber is quite small by comparison and the added advantage is his detractors will not know where to keep the cameras!!
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Kalam did nothing revolutionary or anything unusual. He livedin luxury on plush prime land spread of several acres , with 1000 servants and 100s of rooms. He just went about giving speeches to children. Yes, he may have been a great scientist, but not necessarily a great president. Truth is anbody can be a presdent. Nothing really much to do in that job. It is best to do away with the post of president. Let the supreme court judge handle his itsy bitsy role.
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If political class wants a pro active president then it should be deve gowda or pranab da. If it wants a strict non politician then santosh hegde would be the ideal choice.
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Anitha,
Its a private matter between future judge of Delhi High Court and honorable former spokesperson of Gandhi’s party. There is an injunction from DHC on commenting on this issue…..
Simple Sir,
>He livedin luxury on plush prime land spread of several acres , with 1000 servants and 100s of rooms.
Looks like AMS is still briefing you folks….
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Simple—
Yours is a revolutionary notion. I have often wondered just how much money the exchequer can save by abolishing the President’s Office the Rajya Sabha, There are many others. At the state level the Vidhana or Nidhana Parishath has to go. We should trims our missions abroad. Instead of having one ambassador for each country, there could be regional ones who have jurisdiction over several countries. With all that IT has accomplished, the country should be looking at ways to save money and not spend the money it doesn’t have.
Dr. Ramesh–
. . . . . . . . . .
Asha–
Do you remember how worried Indira Gandhi was thinking that Sam Manekshaw was about to stage a coup against her?
Everywhere our politicians want pliable office holders. The words “Hon’ble” and “Your Excellency” have little meaning now.
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Asha–
Do you remember how worried Indira Gandhi was thinking that Sam Manekshaw was about to stage a coup against her?
Everywhere our politicians want pliable office holders. The words “Hon’ble” and “Your Excellency” have little meaning now.
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PTL,
I do remember that incident…I also remember how here dad refused Gen Thimmayya to over run the paki army/tribesmen to liberate POK, and took it to UN instead, under the sane advise of Edwina Mountbatten to have the statusquo maintained…..what our generals win in wars our leaders lose during negotiations…I still wonder why we did not press for a final solution to the Kashmir issue in our favor in 1971, having all the aces up our sleeve….
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WE SHOULD MAKE ABDUL KALLAM AS PRESIDENT O F INDIA ONCE AGAIN
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Why not Raj Mohan Gandhi?
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Why not Narayana Murthy, though his forward looking attitude has irked people , so called patriots, in the past.
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Please back Dr Kalam for President
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dr-Abdul-Kalam-for-President-2012/306033116141361
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