Advani to talk to NDA Chief Ministers, others; Shiv Sena stays away from meeting
Divisions within the National Democratic Alliance over the pros and cons of putting up a fight against the UPA Presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee forced it to postpone a decision on Sunday.
At the end of a two-hour meeting, held at the residence of NDA working chairperson and senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, it was decided to hold further consultations with the constituents of the alliance, and the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Odisha who have backed the candidature of the former Lok Sabha Speaker, P.A. Sangma.
The BJP, which determined on Saturday not to let the election go uncontested, failed to convince some constituents, especially the Janata Dal (United). Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is opposed to a contest, just for the sake of it, when the numbers are stacked in favour of Mr. Mukherjee.
BJP’s oldest ally Shiv Sena stayed away from the meeting, triggering speculation that it was unhappy with the manner in which the issue was handled. “Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackerey will take a decision on the issue,” party leader Sanjay Raut said.
NDA convener and JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav told journalists after the meeting: “Various leaders put forth their views… More discussions are required… to arrive at the right decision. “L.K. Advani will talk to the Chief Ministers of the NDA-ruled States and all others. The NDA will meet again some time later to take a decision… Those outside [Delhi] will also be consulted.”
When pressed to clarify whether the NDA’s failure to take a decision reflected differences within the coalition, Mr. Yadav said: “Answers to all your questions are available in my statement.”
Several factors have contributed to the NDA’s dilemma on the Presidential election. An adroit management of the numbers by the UPA last week has left the NDA in wilderness. The chief among them are the reluctance of the former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam — the preferred choice of most NDA constituents — to enter the fray, and doubts whether Mr. Sangma (who has been virtually disowned by his own Nationalist Congress Party) will stay in the race.
NDA leaders are not sure whether they can persuade Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee — who has broken ranks with the UPA over her insistence on Mr. Kalam’s candidature — to back their choice.
Having allowed the UPA to seize the initiative, the NDA cannot hope to bargain even for a quid pro quo with the ruling alliance, which will allow it to back Mr. Mukherjee, and expect, in return, the UPA’s support to its candidate for Vice-President.
The BJP and the JD(U) are not on the same page. The BJP sees the election as an opportunity to line up parties such as the AIADMK and the BJD , which are potential allies, for the 2014 general election. But the JD(U) believes a token contest against a veteran like Mr. Mukherjee will serve no political purpose.
The NDA should get its act together immediately and support Sangma for a number of reasons. Firstly, when in the past we have had Presidents based on religious and caste basis why not a tribal which group has not had this distinction so far? It could also send an inspiring message to tribal east that they are very much part of India. Secondly, in a democracy why is a contest labelled bad; why this unholy insistence on unanimity in favour of Mukherjee? Thirdly, why the belief that a candidate of a grouping other than the ruling one is by definition unsuitable? Fourthly, it is time we put an end to the sham democracy of the UPA and its destructive policy of appeasement and drift. We have to keep putting up alternatives even if they fail until we succeed one day. Finally Mukherjee simply lacks the integrity and morality required for this high office.
Mr. Pranab Mukherjee from his political journey has been with Congress. Now at this stage when there are so many corruption charges against current govt. and expecting 2014 election to give a hanging result, President is going to play a major role in the destiny of this country. And nominating Mr. Mukherjee for this post could be a strategy by Congress team.
The intention, intigrity and intelect of Dr. Kalam, makes him the right choice for the 'First citizen of the counry' post. i believe there would be no match to him today's situation in the country and he has experience and desire to serve the country 'uncondtionally'.
Our political leaders are taking the democracy for granted and just playing to their personal agendas. i wish they put before the right will to serve the contry.
It is good to note that Nitish started drifting away from BJP sensing it is all may not go well either for BJP or Congress in 2014. The next election is going to see regional parties having upper hand over national parties.
keeping in mind that presidential position is one of the most respected position in the country, only the most elligible candidate should be allowed to take that honour, parties baking their breads with fire of political motive are maliging this venerated post.
In these time of increasing challenges from with in the country and
outside we need an experienced politician who can monitor and guide
the government in right direction and hence except Pranab Mukherjee
no one has a total experience in government functioning.
Various names are floated by different political parties and their leaders for the post of the President of India. It goes without saying that every suggestion has its own interests and vested interests behind it. Can someone explain as to whose pleasure is being aimed? How the will of the common citizen is taken care of? What difference it will make to the poor if one man or another man is occupying the Rashtrapathi’ palace? One hopefully recollect Gandhi’s words that he could not be party to any action which would not take into consideration the poorest of the poor of this country.
This shows NDA is weak and not forceful with their allies. Moreover they failed to take quick decision when Mamta came out open against Pranab and announced support for APJ Kalam. Now NDA is pushed to either support Pranab or forced to field a person who may not secure even a required percentage of votes. NDA miserably failed to en-cash congress diving popularity among the people.
Probably everyone is making a "dress rehearsal" out of the Presidential poll for the coming general elections --- except the temperamental Mamthaji whose aim appears to be to thumb her nose at Pranab Mukerjee and let know everyone her importance.
Former President Abdul Kalam has made a grievous error by 'tipping his hand'. By volunteering his availability, he has damaged his 'above the crowd' stature.
IT foretaste the race for PM too! The BJP is really at fault.As a major party it ought to have identified its own candidate long before the Congress announced its candidate.The BJP,it seem want to repeat 1969 to allow its supporters to exercise conscience vote to favour the congress to win in the Presidential race as Indira ji did in 1969.It the BJP is in such a state,how it is going to replace Congress at the Centre or conduct the race for PM in 2016.The BJP is set to belly the hopes of its admirers and supporters.It is no longer a party with high principles.Waiting to catch fish in a troubled waters like the Leftists in the Country.It is all due to craving for power and positions by any means,preferablly compromising its principles.Either it should have supported Sangma,soon after Jayalalithaa and Nitish have anncounced their favour for Sangma, a christian from North Eastern state,if it feels weak to put up its own candidate.Of course a Bengali deserve this honour,now or later
Opposition parties have once again proved that they sit in the opposition benches only to “oppose”, let what may come. So far, the NDA leaders are not able to get one consensus candidate who is willing to contest. If so, what is the point in proving that they all want to have “our man/ woman “in the highest office? No President, be it the Congress sponsored or the Opposition sponsored, is going to help anyone in 2014 to get elected/selected to the post of PM unless she/he has the number. The president cannot help anyone to become the PM unless the he/ she enjoy the support of 273 MPs. So let not “2014 hope” or the consideration affect or paralyse the minds of the NDA, the Communists and other third front leaders. Let us all give a chance to one of the best parliamentarian the country has produced in the name of Mr. Pranab Mukhergee
BJP's ambitions of projecting itself as a competition in the 2014 Parliamentary elections was doomed the moment their leadership proposed a "wait and watch" mode to choose their Presidential candidate and wrest the initiative on Congress led UPA. If a party cannot take initiatives and risks, they are unfit to be in the political arena and call themselves a potential alternative to the corrupt and nepotistic UPA government.
A chance delayed is a chance missed. Sorry to say this, but the NDA had an option of tagging on to the AIADMK and BJD in backing Mr. Sangma as these were the only parties in the whole country to have come up with a final name for Presidential candidates. That shows the effectiveness of leadership in these 2 parties.
I used to be a Sangma admirer for the way he run the Lok Sabha as speaker, be I lost all respect for him because he decided to play a communal brand of politics. In contrast to the grace displayed by APJ AK, PA Sangma is shamelessly playing his tribal card. Well everyone knows he is a good candidate, but why Mr.Sangma plays petty politics by saying he should be elected because he is a tribal. If the criteria is only a tribal candidate, I am sure we can find another hundred candidates better than Sangma. For this one reason no party should endorse Sangma's candidature. May be all parties can endorse Jethmalani's candidature if they really want to put a decent fight. Atleast he gives a good reason why he wants to oppose Pranab rather than saying, "I belong to XXX caste" so I should be elected as President.
When NDA is clearly outsmarted, why i don't know why these people are
wasting their time. Pranab's victory is the foregone conclusion, i
believe.
Why does no one think of Delhi Metro's Padmabushan Dr.E.Sreedharan as a suitable non political candidate for the position of the President of India.
Totally agree with the comment of Ozair Akhtar which is very fair and straightforward. But it is also said that BJP is keen on supporting Sangma as President so that the Alliance,l.e., NDA (?), can rope in parties like the BJD and AIADMK that could be "valuable in the next Lok Sabha elections". A very wicked strategy thought of to elect a "would be" President who would serve them in their ulterior motive to win those elections! That, if true, seems to be a demonstration of what wickedness BJP could stand for.
It is rather interesting to see such efforts for a post that is mostly
ceremonial.
It appears that time is not yet ripe for accepting a candidate from the
tribal community. If there was a large enough population of tribals or
if they get united across states to form a powerful electoral group,
their wishes may be fulfilled.
:-)
Photo-op for Mr Advani, by the looks of it, and he wants to milk it for
all it's worth to project himself as the leader and PM candidate of the
BJP and NDA. Enjoy it while it lasts, Mr Advani. It won't be long before
Modi sits on that same chair you're occupying.
We ourselves are indecisive on the issue of supporting or not to support UPA Prez. candidate shri Pranab Mukherjee and/or fielding an NDA-candidate since were criticizing Shri Manmohansingh for his indecisiveness , which we suffered this time, said LK Advani . JD(U) is not a yes-men(yes-men) party for the BJP.
What of waste of time and resources. Which party does not know Mr. Mukherjee. We need to focus on real issues rather than opposing for the sake of oppostion.
Congress is afraid of cross-voting especially by Andhra Congressmen,
therefore they want to avoid a contest.
BJP is no longer a party committed to high principles.They are now ready to compromise with the Congress for power and position.Shiva Sena of Bal Thackeray is the only party which upholds the principles of the old Jan Sangh. They are no longer Rastriya Sevaks, they are now simply suyam seveks (service for self). They can be lured by any offer from the ruling party.BJP ought to have announced its candidate long time ago.It aught not have waiting so long for a feelers from the ruling Congress.It should support Ram Jethmalani who is set out with a mission.
sir,I sincerely expected the BJP to come out openly in favour of a candidate against the present choice of UPA's nominee,Shri Pranab Mukherji. Even Mamta Bannerji could have chosen boldly in favour of Shri Sangma who is supported by both by Naveen Patnaik & Jayalalitha.I am unable to understand why Shri A.P.J.Kalam's name is mentioned for contesting when he has not offerd himself for contest and that he had been President himself previously in the late ninetees and witnessed the BJP or NDA regime's retrogade measure of raising the retirement age of all govt officers' retirement age from 58 to 60 years thus blocking promotion and recruitment of younger officers?
It is rather ironic the extent of debate for a symbolic post that is
dynastic in UK while the key post of Prime Minister is treated as a
dynastic legacy. Hope there is a credible contest for a competent Prime
Minister soon.
Who knows if there is a contest anything may happen in a secret ballot.
Aptitude of Kalamji for the role of President is undisputed. Equally undisputed is the fact that in the electoral college Prandabda commands brutal majority, as the supporting political parties are expected issue whips. Even in a scenario of conscience voting, given the priorities of electing politicians (bait of money,position,power etc) and deteriorating political values Pranabda would romp home successfully. a symbolic fight takes us nowhere. well wishers of Kalamji dissuade him from tripping into the mud
Why not at least the whole of the opposition favour Kalam and I am sure Sangma will understand.
At least we can have a non politician again going to the Rashtrapathi
Bhavan.
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