It is being routinely observed that vice-president Hamid Ansari is the only incumbent of that office after Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan to be renominated. But there is no particular significance to this occurrence.
Dr Radhakrishnan — who had earned the country’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, roughly in the middle of his first term (1952-57) — could not be elevated to President in 1957 because Rajendra Prasad was elected to that high office for the second consecutive term in 1957. In effect, the philosopher-statesman had to wait. But Mr Ansari, who was re-elected with a wide margin on Tuesday, missed elevation as a consequence of the play of politics.
There were enough pressures within the Congress to retain Pranab Mukherjee in the government — he was deemed too precious to relinquish — but outside the Congress, Mr Mukherjee was thought best suited to attract support from all corners. Thus, Mr Ansari missed the cut for President. His chances of re-nomination for vice-president brightened with the Congress keen to have its own President and vice-president in order to demonstrate that politically it was still in control. Mr Ansari has largely conducted Rajya Sabha proceedings well. He has been charged by some sections of bailing out the government by not permitting voting on the Lokpal Bill in December last year. But technically, he should not be faulted for disallowing the vote when the midnight hour has struck, signalling end of the day. After that the order of business has to be crafted afresh.