Nitish’s call to name secular Prime Ministerial candidate in 2014 general elections offers a ray of hope
In Congress circles, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s asking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership to name a Prime Ministerial candidate with secular credentials before the next general elections in 2014 is not just being viewed with approbation; In fact, since it comes on the heels of Mr. Kumar indicating that the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) is willing to break ranks with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and vote for the Congress’ candidate for Rashtrapati Bhavan, it is being viewed as an opportunity.
In Bihar, the Congress won just four Assembly seats in 2010 and two Lok Sabha seats the year before. Given that its traditional partners in the State, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJP), have yet to recover ground, an arrangement with the JD(U) either before or after the 2014 general elections could help boost the UPA’s numbers, a Congress functionary told The Hindu on Tuesday.
In an interview to Economic Times, Mr. Kumar did not refer to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi by name, but left no one in doubt that the JD(U) would walk out of the NDA were the latter to be projected as its prime ministerial candidate. “The leader of the coalition should have secular credentials and a liberal frame of mind,” he said. “I have cordial relations with the Bihar BJP. If external forces are bent on spoiling this relationship, I cannot help it,” he added.
Of course, Mr. Kumar’s reasons for these remarks are twofold: one, he cannot afford to be part of an alliance of which Mr. Modi is the prime ministerial candidate as it would alienate Muslim voters in Bihar; two, he himself has prime ministerial ambitions.
For the Congress, now at its lowest ebb, electorally, these developments are welcome, a party functionary said. Indeed, if the party initially viewed the task of nominating a “winning” candidate for Rashtrapati Bhavan as a challenge, it is now viewing the presidential elections as an opportunity — to forge new friendships outside the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), even as it will walk the extra mile to keep the alliance united.
The Congress, therefore, will not jettison the Trinamool Congress (TMC), party sources said on Tuesday, even if West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee succeeds in persuading her flock to vote against the UPA’s presidential candidate, Pranab Mukherjee. Thus far, barring general secretary Digvijay Singh’s criticism of Ms. Banerjee — for which he has been taken to task — all Congress leaders have made public appeals to her to vote for Mr. Mukherjee. If Congress media chairperson Janardan Dwivedi referred to her as a UPA ally, this was reiterated by party spokesperson Manish Tewari on Monday. And now Shakeel Ahmed, Congress functionary in charge of West Bengal, is playing peacemaker between the TMC and the State unit of the Congress. “The Trinamool was our ally, is our ally and will continue to be our ally,” he asserted on Tuesday.
TMC sources explained the reasons why Ms. Banerjee has been so adamant in her opposition to Mr. Mukherjee: one, she feels that once he is no longer Finance Minister, her chances of getting a bailout package/three-year moratorium on the State debt will recede even further; two, since she has prime ministerial ambitions of her own, she feels a Bengali Prime Minister is unlikely once there is a Bengali President; three, her support to the former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, was addressed to Muslims of West Bengal, who now constitute, according to the most recent census, 30 per cent of the population.
Meanwhile, the Presidential story is not panning out well for the BJP; if one ally, the JD(U), has indicated support for Mr. Mukherjee, another ally, the Shiv Sena, has made an appeal that he should become the unanimous choice of all parties. This comes after the Union Finance Minister telephoned Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray on Monday, seeking the party’s support. A third NDA ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal, is unhappy with the BJP. And the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazahgham (MDMK) had said it would abstain from voting.
Keywords: Presidential poll, Congress, UPA Government
Modi should become prime minister of india. He should speak to all allies of NDA and out of NDA. congress will spent money to divide alliance. Nitish now only knew Modi is not acceptable. When Gujarat riots happend he was minister at the centre. Why didn't you ask Modi to Quit. unless you will withdraw support to NDA.
Nitish Kumar has won Bihar elections only with the help of BJP not of his own. Whereas Narendra Modi has won Gujarat not once but twice without any alliance and against the odds of his own party dissidents like Keshubai Patel and former foe Shankar Singh Vaghela who is Congress now. Kumar should not forget this. When Modi has offered 5 crores for flood relief for Bihar people, Kumar behaved very badly by refusing the money. His motive is known even at that time. He is against Modi personally. He is jealous of him and his welfare measures in Gujarat. 'Secular' are all not the real issue. It is a camouflage to hide his jealousy. It will be really a challenge for him, if he contests 2014 elections without BJP's alliance. Again, he cannot become CM again without BJP.
For the last 14 days or more, all that the political parties have done is wrangle, jostle, and flex for political muscle power without any regard for really pressing issues facing the nation of India - its precarious deficit, a potential downgrade that is so real and will have devastating immediate effects in terms of great falls for Sensex, nifty, the rupee, and rocketing inflation. No one, not even Mr. Kalam, asked the government or the main opposition party BJP to rein in their preoccupation with the election of a person whose constitutional authority is so limited. Just to imagine the farce of this all, the PM promises $10 Billion for Eurozone's crises? He has got to be kidding!! What about the crisis India is facing?
It seems the only goal of Congress to stay in power by any means necessary. In the meantime India's economy can go to hell for all it cares as long as it has has enough 'allies' to return to power in next election.
Too much greed to stick on to rule. Congress is willing to retain Mamta even after the muck she threw on this party.
We all know almost all politicians in this country are selfish, cunning and mentally bankrupt. Who cares cares about the image of our country or common man? Once these unscrupulous men and women are get elected, they simply look around to maximise the benefits. Majority of 543MPs are criminals, looters, tax evaders and not fit-and-proper person to hold such an office. Shamefully, a political party with its leaders are none other than thugs surrounded by only 0.26% of our national population is controlling the entire government at the Centre. Due to poorly drafted Constitution, the scoundrels take control of our nation. Now we need a massive and reform in our Constitution. Someone like Anna Hazare should urgently come forward to draft a workable Constitution.
As a correcting factor of the ruling front it is vital the presence of a good opposition. But unfortunately we don't have it. In most states regional parties are ruling the roost and most of them keeping their regional interest above the national interest in the issues which affect the nation as a whole. After their pathetic performance in the election to the State Assembly, Congress Befool the voters by join hand with winning side. Now they are pinning hopes to join hand with JDU targeting Bihar. Here all politicians winning and general public loosing. After election we don't have any role. In the Presidential Election, most of the political leaders shut their eyes before the mass campaign by the general public infavour of Dr.Kalam. These all shows that all politicians keep their personal interest above people's wishes. I think our ages old system need a revival. The prevailing system should be abolished and we should switch to Presidential system. Let the people to elect our LEADER.
Since, beg, borrow & steal is the position of Congress party it cannot & does not attempt to displease any body as the saying goes "beggars can't be choosers.".
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