Weaker players often set the pace in longer races. But rarely do the stronger players follow them to the very end. From the moment the Congress chose one of its own, Pranab Mukherjee, as its candidate for the presidential election, the Bharatiya Janata Party was under pressure to enter the race. The BJP was not consulted on the choice of nominee as the Congress clinched a deal with its partners and allies. Putting up a fight must, therefore, have seemed to the BJP more important than winning the presidential race. But far from seizing the initiative, and dictating the selection of a rival candidate, the main opposition party seemed content to let smaller parties pick the challenger. The BJP can be forgiven for wanting to take advantage of the fissures within the UPA on the nomination of Mr. Mukherjee, and for tailing Mamata Banerjee in trying to prop up former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam as a candidate. However, in the process, the party opened up cracks within its own National Democratic Alliance. For very different reasons, the BJP could not count on the support of either the Shiv Sena or the Janata Dal (United). Clearly, the BJP was in no position to win new friends without losing old ones. Dropping all pretence of a party destined to lead, it looked every bit a party doomed meekly to follow others.
In turning to P.A. Sangma, the BJP displayed an insipid pragmatism. True, it made sense to support a candidate who had already won the support of two regional parties, the Biju Janata Dal and the AIADMK, than to name a candidate who could further divide the opposition votes. But in playing a cynical waiting game, and in moving from Mr. Kalam to Mr. Sangma within the space of days, the BJP seemed directionless, praying for a saviour instead of actually presenting a real challenge to Mr. Mukherjee. The party might have seen no point in countering a Congress candidate with a nominee from its own ranks as it did in 2007 by fielding Bhairon Singh Shekhawat against Pratibha Patil. But, surely, the alternative need not have been the adoption of somebody else’s candidate, that too at the eleventh hour. Had the party thrown its weight behind Mr. Sangma — who is certainly a worthy candidate — as soon as Jayalalithaa and Naveen Patnaik had announced their support for him, a real contest might well have been on the cards. Today, the principal Opposition party has become a tail of the regional parties it needs to mobilise if it is to stand a chance of coming to power in 2014. Of course, the BJP’s loss is Mr. Sangma’s gain. He still has no chance of winning, but at least he will have the satisfaction of putting up a reasonable fight.
It not wrong for the BJP to follow the lead of 'regional parties', especially potential partners. Indeed, the dismal electoral math of the 'national parties' has increased the clout of the regional players. The disarray within the parties and coalitions augers well for Mr. Sangma. He may yet prove to be more than a 'token' opposition.
Pranab Mukherjee is one of the worst Finace Ministers India has ever seen.If a poll is taken of all time worst FM since Independence Pranba Mukherjee will easilt top the list.Only yashwant Sinha will come anywhere close to him.That he has not only failed to rein in inflation but it was under his tenure that fiscal deficit shot up by unbelievable 21% shows how much a failure he has been.Its really a shame that a section of media is portraying him as a great intellectual personality and most political parties are backing him up when he has nothing to show
Never before presidential election got into such an ignominious horrible phase where one nominee literaly begging door to door & the other siting in some cold chamber spreading out influential web to garner number either armtwisting some recalcitrant ally or invading through the fissure of regional parties.The polity wouldn't be surprised if some horse trading (definitely perhaps a miniscule would be known)follows the suit.In pranab mukherjee congress may get a docile president but country would get its head who couldn't address a flattening economy in terms of a depreciating rupee , staggering growth, uncontrolled fiscal deficit & current account deficit & failed to rein in much agonizing inflation/price rise as finance head of the country even though he did miracle in dealing with every crisis the party has encountered without paying much attention to ethics. the time has come ,indian polity may arguably ponder over direct presidential election emulating other successful democracy.
Well I am agree with some of points that the main opposition in the Indian politics is loosing his sight. There policies are not good, no future plans, no strategy for election 2014. They are thinking that Indian voters are still fooled. If they are angry with the Congress they will vote us. But now the situation changed people know the truth. They can judge. BJP is a good party they have good leaders like Sushma swaraj, Narendra Modi, L K Adwani, Arun jaitly, Jaswant singh, Yashwant sinha, Ravishankar prasad etc. less corrupt than congress. they struggled to reach that level so they have some value for the poet. unless the congress which is enjoying anarchy. I am looking for Mr. Narendra Modi who has clear vision for progress of India he is a visionary man. BJP should project him as the prime minister and give him some central leadership. So that the country can be free from this so called Gandhi family(lutere). They looted the India and stashed the money in Switzerland. Jai Hind
I wudn't say Pranab Mukherjee has failed as Finance Minister. He is given too many hats to wear at the same time and this is what happens when you over-burden a man at 77. Moreover this is a highly challenging time when, thanks to the Euro crisis, the economy of the whole world is tottering and how can you expect India to be an exception? The only problem with him is that he is adamant. The highest chair will sober him!
It is a sad commentary that the principal opposition party did not have/come out
with strategies to corner the ruling party on vital issues. When large scale
corruption cases/scams were surfacing, BJP sat quiet & offered the advantage to
Team Anna. After Team Anna made big noise, BJP for nuisance value supported the movement at the twelfth hour. Similarly for the Presidency, the party slept over the matter & was indifferent. As a strategy Congress activated rumour mill about Mr Mukherjee without any official announcement. BJP then must have been aware of the imminent congress candidate but did not seize the opportunity to join two friendly CMs who proposed Mr Sangma's name. When SP & TMC, allies of congress, came out with three names, BJP again bungled to go open of their support to Mr Sangma without realising that Dr Kalam could not make it and Dr MMS would not be sacrified by Ms Gandhi. If BJP think tank continues this manner, they will become easy target for the Congress in 2014.
Once my grandpa who was working in (then)Bombay in a private company narrated a funny story where an employee in an English company was held responsible for causing some financial loss to the company. There was no way of recovering the loss from his not big a salary.So what the Company did was not sacking or demoting him but actually promoting him to a higher but dormant post carrying a higher salary so that the loss could be attached against his higher salary since the English company did not want the loss remaining in the records as unrecovered.(Had it been an Indian company it would have bombarded the employee or simply written it off! Strange are the ways of the Englishmen!) Adverting to the topic of the day, some are rightly or wrongly blaming Pranabjee as having failed as Home as well as Finance Minister. What if? Promote him to a higher (dormant!) post as done in the English company!!
‘Picking the challenger’ (The Hindu, June 22, 2012) looks an editorial for editorial’s sake. You find fault with the BJP for finalizing its Presidential candidate “at the eleventh hour”. At the same time, you indicate different points why the main opposition could not have done otherwise. There is also no reason to conclude that “a real contest might well have been on the cards, had the party thrown its weight behind Mr.Sangma as soon as Jayalalithaa and Naveen Patnaik had announced their support for him”. In fact, people are more anxious about the selection of the Congress candidate. There is talk of an unwritten MOU, between the Congress and Mulayam Singh, which appeases the latter who will get due rewards for his last minute u-turn to support Pranab Mukherjeeji. Moreover, no adequate explanation has been offered to the demand made by Kejriwal of the India Against Corruption that Mr.Pranab face an independent probe, to prove his innocence in the alleged corruption charges on three specific issues.
Is it not a smooth sail for Pranab Mukherjee? Where is the surprise?
The editorial unnecessarily harps on the well-known fact that BJP lacks vision, cohesion, and agility. This is largely because of the absence of an empowered single leader for the final say in decision making. Nevertheless, taking a dig at them for trailing smaller parties on Presidential candidate's choice could not be avoided. When their candidates are rejected with a single logic (secularism) by one and all, what was the alternative? Their opposition to Mr Mukherjee (a Congress loyalist) is justified on two counts. One, he has not done much on the price rise and corruption that are killing common man. Two, he has exposed himself by hiding the names of the black money holders and calling the rebels in different parties (includig Yeddyurappa) for support to win the race. Though his win is almost certain, you never know what happens at the last moment. Mr Sangma is no less deserving a candidate. So do not rule out surprises completely!
This presidential election might have tested the mantle of both the
main alliances but for one who is interested in these developments it
has been quite an interesting thriller. 13th of June when M & M threw
in air their choices for president every body started writing obituary
of UPA. That M-M explosion forced Congress chairperson swung in action.
Within 24 hours UPA announced the name of its presidential candidate.
Mulayam, ditched Mamata( in a matter of speaking) & chose to walk away
with UPA. When name of Pranab Mukharji was declared it was NDA's turn
to get shattered. JD(U) & Shiv Sena publicly announced their support
for Pranab. NDA has itself put on the clothes UPA shed. Its an irony
that when nation is in for presidential election NDA seems to be
completely oblivious of the real politics & are busy in self
appointment of Prime Minister. somebody needs to tell BJP & NDA they
are supposed to do Indian politics & not the politics some other
planet. May be RSS can bell the cat!!!!
Once the UPA did not care for consulting the BJP the main Opposition to initiate the consensus process (which for some is the Mantra for keeping the Presidential choice above petty party politics) the BJP should have swung into action and nominated a candidate of national stature though the numbers were not on its side for winning the contest.The BJP instead of dictating the selection of a rival candidate was simply dithering directionless and showcased its ineptness.It did not live up to its strength and status as leader of the second large formation after UPA.With UPA having played out its card what remained was only of academic interest and even in this the BJP put up a lacklustre performance bereft of political sagacity and strategy.A silent Sonia emerged as mature politician and no wonder she calls the shots and we the people look on in awe.
It is a pity that Congress is giving a promotion for a man who failed as Home minister and then as finance minister messing up economy.
The Editorial is spot on in pointing out if [the Opposition parties are] to stand a chance of coming to power in 2014 they need to get their act together. The way they were found wanting is nothing short of gross negligence! Last year, their political shenanigans during the Jan Lokpal debate would have been more entertaining than any pantomime a political dramatist could have sketched, but the seriousness of the topic to the nation only made it look wretched and pathetic! It makes one weep, when one considers that India today has more highly educated people, many with doctorates from the best universities of the world, than ever in its history, yet the Opposition is rudderless without any strategy, policy or direction! When one contrasts it with what little resources the freedom fighters and Mahatma Gandhi had and what hostile circumstances they faced, during the independence movement, the present bunch look decidedly anaemic and witless! Sorry, needs to be said.GOD HELP INDIA!!!
Please Email the Editor