In what is a clear case of competitive caste politics in the presidential election, the Opposition has chosen former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar as its candidate against the NDA’s Ram Nath Kovind (“Meira Kumar to contest against Kovind”, June 22). It all boils down to the fact that we do not have genuine secular parties as all of them subtly play the identity card and shamelessly indulge in vote-bank politics for electoral gains. Ms. Kumar may have “an impressive CV” but Mr. Kovind poses a challenge as his is a “simple life, [with] lofty ideals”. His service to the marginalised cannot be ignored. We are yet to hear of Ms. Kumar’s role and contribution in this respect. It is another matter that the Opposition playing the ‘Bihar card’ is not going to make any impression on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. The Opposition’s only intention in the ensuing presidential election is to ensure that the ruling party’s candidate does not get elected unopposed.
C.G. Kuriakose,
Kothamangalam, Kerala
In nominating Meira Kumar, the Opposition has played a master stroke and also shown that it can stand up to the BJP and right-wing forces. Ms. Kumar is well known, experienced, and is a Dalit with an impressive political background. The numbers “may be stacked against the Opposition”, but Ms. Kumar’s selection does queer the pitch for a government that masterminded the social campaign, “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao”.
Jennifer Duraisingam,
London
The choice of Meira Kumar by the Congress and allies has merit. Perhaps the Opposition ought to have taken the first step and announced Ms. Kumar as its nominee and then sought consensus from the NDA and its allies. This could have resulted in a healthy consensus and perception that our lawmakers sought out a worthy and meritorious person. The Opposition has missed an opportunity to have the right person in the highest post. Ms. Kumar’s fight will be a symbolic one and she is bound to be defeated. The Left and the Right should try to be at the centre on matters involving national interest and avoid scoring brownie points. There has to be some dignity in a democracy.
B. Sundar Raman,
Coimbatore
In projecting Ms. Kumar, the Opposition has shattered the myth that it is weak and incapable of taking on the government. The government cannot blame the Opposition for having forced a contest as it known that there is a marked reluctance by the BJP to opt for consensus on any issue that also concerns the Opposition. The NDA’s candidate Ram Nath Kovind may have a clear edge in the race, but the Opposition has proved a point or two by making sure that the BJP doesn’t have its way all the time.
J. Anantha Padmanabhan,
Tiruchi
The office of the President in India is a ceremonial one and it is not as powerful as that of the office of the President of the United States. It does carry its own image though. Therefore, it should be occupied only by eminent personalities from diverse fields. That the NDA has chosen Ram Nath Kovind is pure politics in order to appease the Dalit community. Given his RSS background, it is beneficial to the ruling NDA. On the other hand, it is for fear of being branded anti-Dalit that the Congress has chosen Meira Kumar. All this is proof that it is politicians who divide this country on caste lines. I am of the view that both sides should have fielded a common candidate without probing into his/her caste or political background. Only then would there be real meaning of being a democratic and republic country.
T. Anand Raj,
Chennai
If the BJP tried to play a clever game in nominating Mr. Kovind as its candidate for the presidential election, the Opposition has proved that it more than a match by naming Ms. Kumar. The regional parties stand exposed as most of them have expressed their support even without knowing the name of candidate. This makes it clear that such support carries it with a tag of expected reciprocation from the ruling party in terms of favours. Mr. Kovind’s views on a communal divide and demonetisation are known, according to media reports — both issues whose after-effects still affect the common man.
A.G. Rajmohan,
Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh
It is rather distressing to see how callously and blatantly the caste element has been introduced in the selection of a future President of our secular country by the BJP and more markedly by the Opposition parties. They couldn’t have been more blasé. On the one hand, we pretend to exhort and eschew caste discrimination from the rooftops and do exactly the opposite on the other. In the process, the sanctity of the office of the President has been sullied. Both candidates are eminently suitable. Instead of laying stress on such qualities of the candidates chosen, the process has been reduced to a banal level of casteism. If this be the case for an exalted position, what does one say when it comes to the MP and MLA elections? In this ‘ban’ era, let’s first ban any public statements of choices based on caste or religion for all elective positions.
Raju Umamaheswar,
Coimbatore
