As a veteran of more than four decades in public life, Mr Mukherjee, who will soon be our first citizen, has unmatched experience of Parliament
As a veteran of more than four decades in public life, Mr Mukherjee, who will soon be our first citizen, has unmatched experience of Parliament
Congratulations from diverse quarters began pouring in for Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee the moment the UPA-2 alliance officially named him on Friday as its nominee for the post of Rashtrapati, the election for which is scheduled to be notified on Saturday.
This is as it should be. By the look of things, Mr Mukherjee appears to be the clear winner and should take the oath as President of India on July 24 after President Pratibha Patil demits office.
This is a signal political victory for the Congress Party and the ruling United Progressive Alliance that it leads in these fraught times when speculation abounded that a defeat for the UPA nominee for President could pave the way for the defeat of the government in Parliament. For Mr Mukherjee, this is a personal triumph. As a veteran of more than four decades in public life, the man who will soon be our first citizen has unmatched experience of Parliament and the Union government in which he has held charge of nearly every significant portfolio with distinction. This was in fact the reason why some in his party had briefly wondered if the Congress could “spare” someone of his abilities and eminence for the glitter of Raisina Hill.
Mr Mukherjee is a widely admired politician, respected across the board for his deep political understanding, negotiating skills and administrative acumen. The position of President of India is titular in nature, but it calls for sagacity. The Rashtrapati is an integral part of our Parliament and guides the government of the day which functions in his name. In the coalition era especially, the position calls for great attention to balance and fair play, and also extraordinary familiarity with the nuances of the Constitution. We have every confidence that Mr Mukherjee is temperamentally suited and is otherwise equipped to discharge his constitutional role as President to the satisfaction of the wide political spectrum that prevails in the country.
Given the wide support that Mr Mukherjee’s candidature has attracted from political parties of different hues, any contest for the presidency that might occur can only be notional. In effect, the finance minister has already been elected to the highest post in the land for which his party and the ruling alliance nominated him. This country has a valued convention. All controversies cease once the Parliament of India and the state legislatures signify their endorsement of an individual for President. It is to be hoped that all parties and public figures will now extend their good wishes to the fine man who has been politically endorsed to occupy Rashtrapati Bhavan.
