(KC Kalkura)
Ramnath Kovind is the incumbent President of India. Article 56(1) of the Constitution of India provides that the President of India shall remain in office for a period of five years. His term expires on 24th July 2022. The election to fill in the office is scheduled to be held on 18th July 2022 and the counting of votes will take place on 21 July 2022. The Sixteenth President of India will take the oath of office on 25th July 2022. The battle of ballot line is drawn between the BJP and National Democratic Alliance sponsored Draupadi Murmu and the veteran ex-Army and ex-BJP leader Yashwanth Sinha.
The Electoral system, Election schedule, Electoral College, Party wise votes, Party wise break up of Electoral College, probable results, and all other matters concerning the election are being discussed in all sorts of media: Viz. printed, electronic, social, etc. What marks this election more interesting is the fact that a divided opposition wants to set up a common candidate to fight against the official candidate of the ruling dispensation. It is more curious that some opposition leaders are aspirant Prime Ministerial candidates for the general elections for the 18th Lok Sabha in 2024. There is more than one aspirant. The presidential election of 2022 is a preparation or trial for the 2024 final. Each indirectly heralding the candidature and proclaiming he/she/ his/her suitability and eligibility for the post. Each one does not talk to the other. Instead fixes the date on his own and announces the date of the meeting in the place of his or her choice. Whether personal communications are sent to the counterparts of other parties by the aspirants themselves or by any responsible deputy is not known. If the aspirants are sincere in their intentions, efforts must be serious and transparent.
A Telugu daily published a cartoon: “Each party held separate meetings to select a common candidate for the Presidential Election.” Three ambitious aspirants for the Prime Minister’s gaddi in 2024 are Trinamool Congress leader (TMC) Mamata Banerjee of West Bengal, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Chief Minister of Telangana, Kalvakurthi Chandrasekhara Rao (KCR) and Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Aravinda Kejriwal. The word ‘humility’ has no place in their dictionary. On the other hand ego and arrogance is the basis of their character. They do not see eye to eye with other states. Nor are their relationships with their neighbors cordial. On the other hand with the slightest provocations, they pick up a row and would be hostile. More often they subdue the mild neighbors. Even within the states, in their opinion, the opposition is a weak subordinate.
At present Mamata is at the forefront. She convened a meeting of the 22 opposition leaders on 15th June 2022, in Delhi to select a common opposition candidate for the Presidency. On the face of it, formal invitations were sent to 22 parties. Apparently, Mamata had not spoken to other Chief Ministers. She might have addressed personal letters. National Parties, like Congress and Communists, deputed their deputies. Seventeen parties out of 22 were represented. Others had their own reasons, grievances, or excuses to absent themselves. Sharad Pawar was the only tall leader present. He ‘gently and politely’ declined the offer, of his candidature. An Octogenarian, born 12 December 1940, he still wants to be in ‘active politics’. This is considered in some quarters that Pawar himself is a potential candidate for the Prime Ministership. Was not Morarji Desai, born in 1896, an Octogenarian when he became the Prime Minister in 1977! Morarji was the Chief Minister of undivided Bombay State. He was a national figure even as the Chief Minister. Whereas Pawar was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Though he was a Minister in the Central Cabinet for a good number of years, he is only a Maharashtrian satrap. Except for Mamata, no other Chief Minister attended the meeting on June, 15th. They have their own reasons, excuses, and limitations. Some of them do not see eye to eye with others. Some have unexplainable hindrances. e.g. Jagan Mohan Reddy gets an appointment with the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and other Central Ministers every time he visits Delhi. It is considered a rare privilege for a non-BJP Chief Minister. Above all, he is a chief Minister on bail in cases filed by the CBI. Outwardly there is the excuse of central aid to the Polavaram Project and other welfare schemes. Hence it was a foregone conclusion that Ruling YSR Party in Andhra Pradesh would pledge its support to any candidate set up by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Though Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has parted company with the NDA, BJD is only a rival and sits in the opposition in the Parliament. May not be a friendly opposition, but it has never been antagonistic to the BJP. Further, it has a good reason to support the NDA Candidate, Droupadi Murmu, an Orian Tribal.
Mamata (born 5 January 1955) is uncompromisingly individualistic. Even the milder than the mildest cannot adjust with her. “The day I did not laugh was unhappy in my life,” said Charlie Chaplin. In contrast, the day she does not quarrel with anybody is the saddest day in her life. She is dictatorial and ‘arrogant’ is the mildest term to explain her character. Several national leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and non-BJP Chief Ministers, attended the swearing-in ceremony of H.D.Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister of Karnataka on 23rd May 2018. It was boasted that the occasion heralded the dawn of a viable alternative to the BJP at the national level. That day Mamata was very angry that she was held up at a traffic signal. She demonstrated her anger in the full glare of the live electronic media. Would the country elect such an impatient person as the Prime Minister? (to be concluded)
(The opinions expressed in this post solely belong to the author)
(K.C.Kalkura, Advocate and Social Activist, N.R.Pet, Kurnool 518004. Mobile: 9440292979 Mail: kalkurakurnool@gmail.com)