The Hindu : Cong. opposition was a shock: Alexander

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 16, 2002

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Cong. opposition was a shock: Alexander

By Mahesh Vijapurkar

MUMBAI July 15. The former Maharashtra Governor, P.C. Alexander, feels "hurt'' that the Congress, from which he "expected the most enthusiastic support, was the one which opposed his candidature'' for President "most vehemently'' and this led to his decision to quit as Governor. "It would be dishonest if I say that I was not disappointed at the unexpected turn.''

At a much-awaited press conference here today, soon after he filed his nomination as an independent candidate to the Rajya Sabha, sponsored by the Nationalist Congress Party and finding unconditional support from both the BJP and the Shiv Sena, he spoke of his "shock, surprise and anguish'' because he had hoped for "positive support from the Congress in view of my close association with Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi''.

Tracing the origin of the plans to send him to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Dr. Alexander recalled the visit of the Union Minister, Pramod Mahajan, on November 30, 2001 to convey a message from the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Home Minister, L.K. Advani, that they "wished to know whether I would be willing to be a candidate of the NDA for election to the post of President if I was selected.''

To this, he had two requests: he wanted to be a candidate of the NDA supported by the main Opposition party and that he would not canvas support from other political parties if a contest became necessary. "I told him that I was hopeful of a positive response from the Congress if an approach for support were to be made by them.'' Mr. Mahajan's response was that the NDA was also hopeful in view of "my close association'' with the Gandhis.

Asked if association itself was a criterion to secure support for the highest office, Dr. Alexander said that because of his association, his ability and his capacity would have been known to them and, therefore, the expectation of support.

The NDA leaders, Dr. Alexander stressed, "had tried their best till the very end to secure the necessary additional support for my candidature from the parties outside the alliance, but they could not eventually succeed.'' When "accepting the final outcome,'' resignation from the Raj Bhavan was the "appropriate course in the circumstances''. So, he put in his papers and was now looking to a new role.

Saying that he had been in touch with Ms. Gandhi — he visited her every time he was in Delhi, having had known her during his tenures with Indira and Rajiv Gandhi — he spoke of his anguish having become greater when a few overzealous Congress leaders were "making the campaign against me a personal one''. As a serving Governor, he could not react but he knew such a campaign was not reflective of the view of a majority of Congressmen.

It would go against his grain if he entertained any idea or intent of revenge or vengeance nor would he "join any anti-Sonia bandwagon.'' He found "it difficult to be anti-anybody'' and "do no carry vengeance in action or thought''. None of his action would be even anti-Congress.

In short, having been a person with correct conduct all the time in his career — bureaucrat, diplomat, and "a constitutional Governor'' — he would be above "pettiness".

Now, he wanted to "serve Maharashtra and the nation'' through his involvement in the Rajya Sabha, the offer to send him there "being new and sudden'' which came from a "generous Mr. Sharad Pawar'' who, days ago, "told me that a seat in the Rajya Sabha may be available to me as an independent member if all other major political parties'' supported it.

He had contemplated "complete retirement" in Bangalore, but "I think I have something to contribute there'' without "the constraints'' but wanted to be "doubly sure'' that all major parties supported his nomination "which, I think, is the case now.''

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Cong. opposition was a shock: Alexander