Guessing game on next Prez begins
A guessing game has begun about Presidential candidates in the political circles with the leaders viewing that major political parties like the Congress and the BJP should avoid a election for the top post. The term of incumbent President Pratibha Patil expires in July 2012.
The Congress would like to have its nominee to become the President but it cannot force because it is short of numbers in Parliament and state legislatures which constitutes the electoral college.
In 2007, the Congress could manage numbers for Ms Pratibha Patil because of the Left’s support. Even the Shiv Sena, the BJP ally in the NDA, had backed Ms Patil on the “Marathi” ground against the BJP-backed Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.
In fact, the Left had played a key role in the presidential and vice-presidential elections in 2007.
But this time, the Left and its allies — the AIADMK, the TDP, the BJD and others — are not in a position to play a role of the “king maker”.
And among the UPA, the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamul Congress, the DMK, the NCP and the National Conference have not emerged as a pressure group yet. It will be interesting to see whether West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee will play the Bengal card and thus get support from the Left in the presidential election. Barring Dr Rajendra Prasad (January 26, 1950 to May 13, 1962) no President got a second term. Dr Zakir Hussain (May 13, 1967 to May 3, 1969) and Dr Fakruddin Ali Ahmed (August 24, 1974 to February 1977) were the only Presidents who could not complete their term. Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was the choice of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav which the BJP then in power, accepted and the Congress had no other option but to back him in the 2002 election.
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