Whether the Trinamool Congress is headed for another confrontation with the Congress over the Vice-Presidential election is the question doing the rounds in political circles here ahead of Saturday’s meeting between the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) partners in New Delhi .
While the incumbent Vice President Hamid Ansari is the UPA’s nominee for the post, the Trinamool Congress leadership has been considering the name of former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi.
Conflicting choices could well belie hopes of any thawing in relations between the two parties that might have been raised with Trinamool chairperson Mamata Banerjee deciding to send Railway Minister Mukul Roy as her party’s representative to the UPA meeting following a call from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh late on Wednesday. Her decision to stay away from the meet is also significant.
The meeting, where issues other than that related to the Vice-Presidential elections are also likely to be discussed, is being held when relations between the Trinamool and the Congress are at a low ebb. The former is increasingly aware that its vote in the Presidential and Vice Presidential elections will have little consequence on the outcome.
Already snubbed by Pranab Mukherjee who recently remarked that he would talk to Ms. Banerjee to seek her support “as and when” she is ready, the Trinamool Congress finds itself isolated. It has not taken kindly to the Prime Minister sounding out Janata Dal (Secular) president H.D. Dewa Gowda and CPI (M) general secretary Prakash Karat on the matter of UPA’s nominee for Vice President before intimating Ms. Banerjee, whose party is the second largest constituent in the ruling coalition .
Though the Trinamool Congress has said it will announce its stand on the July 19 Presidential election three days before the election, certain remarks directed at Mr. Mukherjee by some of its senior leaders have been viewed by the State Congress as frustrated expressions of a party that has not had its way in the Presidential race.
It is against such a backdrop that the Trinamool could be bracing itself for another round of sparring with the Congress on the Vice Presidential election issue.
But this time around will matters be less acrimonious given the indications of some hardening in the stand of the Congress? On its part the Trinamool Congress would not like to upset the applecart at the Centre, Ms. Banerjee’s occasional outbursts notwithstanding. The party’s ministers at the Centre might be “mentally prepared” to resign, as one of them had said less than a month ago, but the it has no intention to topple the UPA government, he had added.
What you outline Mr Dutta is precisely the tragedy for the nation.
The political parties want to elect "yes men or women" whom they can
"control", for the "titular posts of the President and the Vice
President" so that what little "democratic checks and balances" people
in these posts are supposed to exercise under the Indian Constitution
are also subverted.
Simply put, democracy in India is nothing but an entertaining pastime
of the senatorial elders and the scions of the rich and powerful
dynastic families, like strolling down to the Forum to display verbal
jousting or to enact buffoonery for entertainment (eg play act, sing
songs, tell jokes) – while the serious matter of plundering the nation
or emasculating the citizens is meticulously planned and executed by
staff (party members and compliant govt office holders).
And these families are counting on the illiterate, or the selfish, or
the apathetic Indian citizens just to carry on as normal with their
famous "Chalta Hai" attitude.
Kudos ! Thanks to Mamataji ! Gopalakrishna Gandhi is the right candidate! Without any bios our Parlimentarians should support
him to maintain the prestege of our Nation . He is non-controversial and eminent and would definitely maintain the reputation of the key position which is the need of the hour.Let us look forward something good to happen to our motherland !
Mamataji, S.P. fooled you by agreeing to go along on Kalam and now you are totally isolated. You need to be cool, clever and diplomatic in order to be a successful political leader.You exhibited promise to the people of Bengal and came to Power. Now, you have more enemies than friends. You need to change your attitude in order to succeed and sustain your goodwill with the people.
Of course,it was not a bad idea.Instead of allowing the second term
for the incumbent Dy.President,the candidature of Mr.Gopala Krishna
Gandhi,being a spotless leader is appropriate.Seeking renomination
of the present incumbent for the Dy.President by the congress is
for nothing,but for survival of the party at this crucial juncture
where the party is in neck deep corruption cases and also to
continue its agenda of looting.There are no gains to the country
under the dispensation of congress party worth to mention so
far,except corruption at disproportionate levels.
There should be a change of both President and vice president, as the Post are for those who are above party politics, should have been done something for the common man and the coutry at large, and not those who seek the post,MR.Ansari was earlier was in the post, and has to give others who have done better than him a chance on his own.
There are many senior citizen who has done much tot he country,including Dr Manmohan singh.Let some useful perons be elected/selected in the interest of the country.
I completely agree with your suggestion Mr. Mahapatra but the fact remains everyone regardless of political hue is afraid of someone they don't know how will act once inducted to the post. This risk is comparatively low when the nominee is from a political background. The ruling party can at least be assured of his/her loyalty! During this political open season for the UPA, it can ill-afford a man having a brain of his own at the presidency.
Gopal Gandhi ought to have been chosen for President post.Atleast his name should be considered for vice-presidentship. All pollitical parties should support him.No other person is suitable now than him.
He is an embodiment of the combination of North and South.He is truly and proudly Indian
It will be good for the country,indian democracy and for all the political parties to field a person of international stature,non political for the post of vice president. We are tired of tug of war in this field.Congress is interested in choosing a person of its choice.It has its political motive,which is not good for the country as well as democracy.We wish a impartial president and vice president who could do justice with the post, country,democracy and its honour at the time when it needed most.
Wouldn't it be nice, at this point in time when democracy in India is
being debauched by all the political parties for their private gains -
to a greater or lesser extent, that at least the posts of the
President and Vice-President of India are held by people (i) of
international stature in their field (ii) without conflict of interest
(business or other 'for profit' link), and (iii) politically neutral –
at least not in hock to any particular political party???
More's the pity when there are many such worthy Indian citizens!!!
Is 2012 not late enough for India to start becoming a modern
democracy???
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